Trigger Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence, including the murder and mutilation of a transgender woman. It discusses hate crimes, transphobia, and violence against sex workers. Reader discretion is strongly advised, especially for those who may be affected by content related to trauma, assault, or gender-based violence.
The gruesome murder of 25-year-old Woranun Pannacha, a transgender woman from Nong Khai province, has horrified Thailand and drawn urgent calls for justice, safety reforms, and legal protections for transgender individuals and sex workers.
Woranun’s body was discovered on April 26 in a rented room in Pattaya, a popular beachside city long known for its vibrant nightlife and large LGBTQ+ community. Her body had been mutilated, her heart and silicone breast implants removed, and left in a manner so disturbing that it shocked even seasoned investigators. The accused, 42-year-old Fu Tongyuen, a Chinese tourist from Hubei province, was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport just hours later, attempting to flee the country. He confessed after being presented with overwhelming evidence, including CCTV footage and the victim’s phone in his possession.
According to police, Fu met Woranun on South Pattaya Beach the night before the murder. They agreed on a price for sex, 8,000 baht (around $220 USD), but Woranun later refused to engage in intercourse, prompting Fu to demand half his money back. When she refused, the situation escalated into a violent altercation. Fu, reportedly scratched and kicked in the face, responded by pinning her neck to the floor until she stopped breathing. He then used scissors to cut into her body, removing organs and placing them on her corpse. When questioned, he chillingly claimed he was “curious about the body’s inside,” citing scenes from television dramas as inspiration.
The brutal killing has sparked widespread grief and fury, especially from Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community, who are all too familiar with the risks transgender women face daily. Woranun’s parents, devastated by their daughter’s death, confronted the suspect during a police reenactment. Her father struck Fu with a plastic bottle before falling, and her mother screamed in anguish. Woranun, described as her family’s breadwinner, regularly sent money home to support her relatives.
Thai advocacy groups are calling the case a tragic but predictable result of a system that criminalizes sex work and leaves transgender people vulnerable to violence, often without access to justice. “People are scared,” said Hua Boonyapisomparn, vice president of the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights. “If you are attacked as a sex worker, the fear of arrest or judgment keeps many from going to the police.”
Faasai, a Thai LGBTQIAN+ advocacy organization, issued a powerful statement condemning the murder and demanding hate crime legislation, decriminalization of sex work, and better protections for transgender people. “This is not just one isolated act,” the statement read. “It’s the result of systemic neglect, criminalization, and the social invisibility of transgender lives.”
Public anger has also focused on Thailand’s recent visa waiver for Chinese tourists. Since implementing visa-free travel to boost tourism, reports of violent crimes involving Chinese nationals have increased. Critics argue that lax border screening and lack of accountability are putting Thai citizens at risk.
While Thai authorities plan to tighten border controls by reducing visa-free stays and introducing pre-departure screening, activists stress these changes are too late for Woranun. Her death has become a rallying cry, a call not only for justice in the courtroom but for societal transformation. For Thailand’s transgender community, the message is clear: visibility without protection is not safety.
As the investigation continues, Woranun’s name joins the long list of transgender lives lost to brutality. But in death, her story may yet serve as a catalyst for long-overdue change.
If you or someone you know has experienced violence or discrimination, contact a local LGBTQ+ advocacy organization for support. Transgender lives matter. Justice must follow.
