An American fugitive has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of stabbing his pregnant wife to death and dumping her body in the trash.
Jason Balzer, 30, argued with Pitchaporn Kidchob, 32, about his purchase of a new motorbike before allegedly stabbing her repeatedly at their home in the northern city of Nan on Sunday.
Balzer is said to have fled the following day and was arrested on Thursday more than 100 miles away in Chiang Mai where he was staying with friends.
Police detained him hours after discovering Pitchaporn’s body stuffed inside a bin which had been pushed into a ditch around three miles from their home. There were stab wounds on her torso.
Balzer – who arrived in Thailand in 2019 after allegedly jumping bail on assault charges in Colorado – was charged with murder which carries a maximum penalty of death.
Jason Balzer, 30, argued with Pitchaporn Kidchob, 32, about his purchase of a new motorbike before allegedly stabbing her repeatedly at their home in Nan on Sunday (pictured during his arrest yesterday)
Pitchaporn Kidchob, 32, met the American in Phuket last year
Police detained Balzer hours after discovering Pitchaporn’s body stuffed inside a bin which had been pushed into a ditch. There were stab wounds on her torso.
Balzer is seen during his arrest on Thursday after travelling 200 miles from the home he shared with his wife
Balzer is seen speaking to police after his detention on Thursday
He reportedly told police that he killed his wife because she had nagged him and complained about a new motorcycle he bought himself.
In a police interview, Balzer said: ‘I was furious when she yelled at me for buying a new motorbike so I stabbed her. I really had no idea that she was pregnant.
‘I quit my job and sold everything to settle down in Thailand with her. But lately she showed me no affection, refusing to sleep with me and telling me to return to my country.’
According to media reports from Colorado, Balzer has been in previous legal trouble.
Officers continued questioning Balzer through the night and remanded him in custody while they prepare charges against him.
Police Lieutenant General Prachuab Wongsuk said that they wanted to gather all the evidence before levelling charges at Balzer.
The policeman said: ‘Jason met Pitchaporn in Phuket while he was on holiday and he then married her. They moved back to her home town.
‘However, they had a lot of arguments lately. The offender eventually snapped when she scolded him. She demanded that he should leave her alone.
‘Jason stabbed her twice before taking her body to a forest to get rid of the evidence. He hid the corpse inside a bin and put it on the back of a pickup truck.
‘The bin was sealed with tapes and placed in a specific spot where bushes concealed everything. He fled to Chiang Mai to stay with his friends, since the province has more foreigners than Nan allowing him to blend in.’
Police remove a green wheelie bin from the ditch. Pitchaporn’s body was found inside the bin with stab wounds
The motorbike which Balzer was allegedly seen fleeing on earlier this week
CCTV footage which allegedly shows Balzer fleeing his home in Nan
Balzer and his wife. The pair met in 2020 in Phuket and got married around a year after they started dating
Neighbours told police that they heard the couple arguing on the night that Pitchaporn was allegedly killed
Pitchaporn’s devastated mother collapsed in tears when the body was found. She said that her daughter had been arguing with Balzer on the day she disappeared.
When she could not reach her by cellphone she visited their home but was shocked when her daughter was not there. There were bloodstains on a bed, washing machine and around the house and the mattress was missing.
Speaking after her daughter’s body was Pitchaporn’s mother Anong Tanya, 52, said: ‘I looked in their home and Jason had also left a letter to confuse the police before he escaped.
‘I couldn’t sleep thinking about my daughter. I cried until I had no more tears left. I had hoped that he only took her away and she’s still alive. Now I know she is dead I am heartbroken.’
Mother-in-law Anong Tanya, 52, claimed her son-in-law was known for having a ‘bad temper’
Neighbours claimed the couple were heard fighting before Balzer rode his motorbike out of the house
Balzer and his wife are seen having coffee together in a picture uploaded to social media
According to media reports from Colorado, Balzer has been in previous legal trouble.
The Boulder Daily Camera reported that Balzer in December 2019 pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree assault in Boulder District Court and was sentenced to two years of probation.
It said he had originally been charged with attempted murder and six related charges, but his victim would not testify in court.
The Greeley Tribune reported that Balzer and a second man were stopped by police on December 30 last year in the town of Mead for a possible traffic violation, and were found to be transporting 72 guns.
Balzer was arrested for 74 violations of a protection order, two felony counts of possession of an illegal weapon and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon, the report said. He was released from custody after posting bail, it said.