American arrested for killing Thai and hiding body in luggage

By The Nation

Phuket - An American man, 37, has been arrested for stabbing a Thai bar girl to death, concealing her in his luggage and dumping the body near a road in Phuket's Muang district last June, police told a press conference yesterday.

Police presented Ronald John Fanelli, along with the victim's cell phone and SIM card, the battle pants he wore on the day, a Suzuki motorcycle allegedly used to move the body, and a sharpedged knife police say was the murder weapon.

Fanelli allegedly told police he became paranoid when Wanpen Pianjai, 33,whom he picked up from the Sweetheart Bar on June 18, played with his knife and he stabbed her to death. The body was discovered on June 24.