American arrested over murder of masseuse

A 24-year-old American was arrested yesterday in Kampot province over the murder and attempted rape of a 27-year-old Cambodian masseuse in Kep province.

Major General Mao Chanmakthurith, chief of Kampot provincial police, identified the suspect as Shawn Daniel Sanchez, an American tourist.

The police chief said the suspect was accused of killing Luch Keang on Tuesday night in Kep province. Ms Keang was the daughter-in-law of a deputy commander with Kep provincial military police.

Maj Gen Chanmakthurith said the suspect first went to get a massage at Lida Khmer Massage in Kep city on Monday, when he first met the victim.

A day later, the suspect again returned to the massage shop to request a massage from the victim again.

But this time, the suspect attempted to have sex with the victim, who refused his advances and fought back as he attempted to rape her.

“So he beat the victim and continued to try and rape her,” the police chief said. “She fought back and tried to flee and he got even angrier.”

“He then killed her by slashing her throat with a pocketknife, killing her instantly at the massage shop,” he added.

Maj Gen Chanmakthurith said the victim fought for her life during the attack, scratching the suspect multiple times across his face and neck, leaving cuts that police later used to identify him as the perpetrator.

“After killing her, he fled to stay at a guesthouse in Kampot province,” he said. “He was arrested based on information from witnesses, other masseuses at the shop who saw him leave with wounds on his face, chin and neck.”

He said other masseuses at the shop heard the altercation taking place in the private room where the suspect and victim were fighting, but did not think it was serious because the two had just seen each other the previous day.

“They thought they were just playing and did not come to her aid,” he said.

Maj Gen Chanmakthurith said Kep and Kampot provincial police worked together to track down the suspect at the guesthouse where he was hiding in Kampot.

After his arrest, police seized the pocketknife used in the attack and transferred the suspect to Kep provincial police, who have jurisdiction over the case, the police chief added.

Brigadier General Pol Sok Heng, chief of the provincial police’s investigations department in Kep province, said the suspect was accused of attempted rape and premeditated murder and faced a life sentence if convicted.

The suspect remains detained at provincial police headquarters in Kep province and is due to make his first court appearance today.