Jordanian Drowns Toddler in Pattaya to Punish Wife: Police

A file photo of Pattaya City. Photo: Stanislav Baranov / Flickr
A file photo of Pattaya City. Photo: Stanislav Baranov / Flickr

PATTAYA — A Jordanian man stands accused of murdering his own toddler by strapping him in a stroller and dumping him into the gulf off Pattaya, police said Tuesday.

Wael Zureikat, 52, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport while attempting to leave the country hours after his 18-month-old son was found dead Monday evening, according to immigration chief Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn.

The boy’s body was found still strapped to the the pram, floating in the water near Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya. Police said he had been dead at least two days.

Col. Apichai Krobphet, Pattaya police chief, said Zureikat confessed to killing his son late Friday night by pushing the pram off the pier.

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Surachate said Zureikat wanted to take revenge against his 24-year-old wife after they got into a violent fight over their financial situation while on vacation there, and because he didn’t want to have children in the first place. He has been charged with murder.

Surachate said the wife, who hasn’t been identified, was still in shock after learning about her son’s death and still couldn’t make a statement. She’s currently under medical care at a local hospital, he added.

Clarification: This story has been updated with additional police statements about Zureikat’s motive.