Jan 5 Sacramento
california
Suspect in 1994 Calif. Murder Arrested in Thailand
Published: November 4, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - A Thai-American man listed as a most-wanted fugitive by U.S. authorities for the 1994 slaying of his pregnant wife in California was arrested Friday in northern Thailand, police said.

The arrest of Saner Wonggoun, who was serving with the U.S. Air Force at the time of the killing, came two weeks after Thai and U.S. authorities announced a $27,300 reward for information leading to his capture.

Saner, 59, was arrested Friday morning in Phitsanulok province, 208 miles north of Bangkok, said Thai police spokesman Gen. Ajirawith Suphanaphesat.

He said police would conduct further investigations before making preparations to send him back to the United States.

Saner was a technical sergeant serving as an air cargo supervisor at Travis Air Force Base in California in January 1994 when the battered body of his wife, Sopha was found wrapped in a sleeping bag by the side of a road in Marin County. She was eight months pregnant.

Police went to question Saner about his wife’s death but found he had left their two children with a neighbor and purchased a one-way ticket to Bangkok, where immigration records show he arrived on Jan. 14, 1994, Thai and U.S. authorities said earlier this week.

Marin County prosecutors gave legal jurisdiction in the case to the Air Force 12 years ago, and Saner was charged with premeditated murder, said Capt. Christine Millette, an Air Force spokeswoman.

Saner will likely be tried in a military court martial at Travis Air Force Base, and could face the death penalty if convicted, Millette said.

It was not clear Friday when Saner will be returned to the United States, she said.

“The (Thai and U.S.) governments are talking right now and that will be decided in the next days or weeks,” Millette said.

U.S. Embassy legal attache Robert Burkes described the pursuit of Saner as a “priority” case, and Thai Deputy Police Commissioner Gen. Israphan Snitwongse had said he hoped the reward offer would revive the hunt to find the long-missing fugitive.

Authorities had circulated a photo of how Saner looked at the time of his disappearance, along with an artist’s renditions of how he might be expected to appear now.

“This is a great day now that we have the Air Force’s No. 1 fugitive in custody,” Brig. Gen. Dana Simmons said in a written statement. “His capture is a culmination of a lot of work.”

___

Associated Press Writer Don Thompson in Sacramento contributed to this report.

Reader's Comments
""yes" melissa this is sophia ...im not sure that i know who you are and i may have the slightest idea ...if you must know, my overall life for the most part is wonderful ..i do not not dwell on the past affraid of being unsuccesfull for the future an unable to meet my goals in life .. but if u would like to contact me feel free to email me @ www.ascrowder319@yahoo.com or here, my # 707-439-5314 i know i shouldnt be posting my # on here but , "oh well ""
-> Posted by sophia wonggoun / Dec 12, 2007
"i no the was posted a year ago, but i want to knw if that was the REAL sophia posting the last comment. We were friends b4 her mom was killed. I have been looking for her for some years now. If it was really sophia posting the last comment please get back to me ASPA i would love to see who your life has turned out!"
-> Posted by Melissa / Sep 08, 2007
"dont worry jim don doesnt have to tell you the story ....I will its "my father "....should i forgive but not forget or should i hate him and keep living life like i have for the past 12 years ? Advice anyone"
-> Posted by sophia wonggoun / Dec 25, 2006
"hey Don Thompson why don't you give us the whole story like Sophia Wonggoun says?"
-> Posted by Jim Carrico / Dec 19, 2006
"you better watch your tongue ###### thats my father your talkin about ...you dont even know the whole story ...you piece of #### !!!!"
-> Posted by sophia wonggoun / Nov 22, 2006
"#######
Gay
####
####"
-> Posted by Bastard / Nov 18, 2006
"I'm a #####!"
-> Posted by Faggot / Nov 18, 2006
"I'm a ######!!"
-> Posted by Faggot / Nov 18, 2006
"I WANT ADDRESS OF MR. SANER WONGGOUN AT USA NOW. BECAUSE I WILL WRITE LETTER TO HIM.
IN THAILAND HE STAY NEAR AT HOME.
THANK YOU."
-> Posted by nitee / Nov 15, 2006
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