Woman Arrested for Cutting Painter’s Rope in Shocking 2021 High-Rise Incident
NONTHABURI, Thailand – April 5, 2025 — A woman convicted of attempted murder and property damage for cutting a rope being used by a high-rise painter in 2021 has been arrested after evading a court summons and hiding out in her apartment. The arrest follows a long investigation by police after the woman failed to appear for sentencing in March.
The suspect, a reclusive computer programmer living on the 21st floor of a 32-storey condominium in Pak Kret, was involved in an incident that gained widespread media attention in October 2021. A painter working on the building’s exterior was left clinging to life after his safety rope was mysteriously cut, forcing him to call out to a resident for help.
Despite initially denying involvement, the woman later admitted to cutting the rope in a moment of anger, claiming she had not been informed about the painters’ presence and was annoyed by the disruption. Building management had posted notices in the elevator beforehand, but she claimed she never saw them.
The act led to her being charged with attempted murder, as the painter could have fallen to his death, and property damage. She was released on bail pending trial, but ignored the court’s summons for sentencing, leading to the issuance of a warrant on March 24, 2025.
The Commando Police Facebook page reported the suspect’s capture yesterday. Police from Division 5, led by senior officers including Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridet, tracked the woman to her residence where she was living in near isolation, rarely leaving her apartment — a behavior that ultimately helped investigators locate her.
Upon arrest, the woman acknowledged the outstanding warrant but claimed she had not been aware she was being pursued. She was taken into custody to face the legal consequences of her actions.
The case has highlighted both the dangers faced by maintenance workers on high-rise buildings and the consequences of impulsive, reckless actions. The painter, fortunately, escaped serious injury thanks to quick-thinking residents who pulled him to safety.
