Saner Wonggoun
Encyclopedia
Technical Sergeant
Saner Wonggoun is a Thai American
who was the United States Air Force
's top fugitive
from 1994 to 2006 as the principal suspect in his wife's murder. After his November 2006 capture in a Thai market, Wonggoun unsuccessfully fought extradition and eventually pled guilty to—and was convicted of—voluntary manslaughter
by court-martial.
, TSgt Wonggoun is imprisoned at Travis Air Force Base, California and awaiting review of his sentencing by Air Force officials.
, Saner Wonggoun moved to the United States
at the age of 21 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1976. He gained United States citizenship
in 1978, having dual citizenship
with his home nation of Thailand.
as an air cargo supervisor in January 1994, Wonggoun fled the country on January 14 when wanted for questioning by the authorities of Marin County
, California
. The sergeant was the primary suspect in the murder
of his wife of 12 years (conflicting reports give 13), 42-year old Sopha Wonggoun (née Yodpet).
His wife's body was found a week earlier on January 7, 1994 wrapped in a sleeping bag
along a deserted road off State Route 1
. At the time of the murder, the couple had two children already and Sopha was eight-months pregnant
. An autopsy later determined Sopha died of "blunt force trauma to the head ... consistent with the shape of a hammer."
In the interim three to four days it took to identify the victim and to acquire a search warrant for the Wonggouns' mobile home
, Saner had received emergency leave and had purchased tickets to Thailand—leaving his vehicle in the short-term parking at San Francisco International Airport
.
Heading the investigation, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations
(AFOSI) named Sergeant Wonggoun their number one fugitive; and, in October 2006, offered age-progressed images and a US$25,000 reward to the public for information leading to the capture of their fugitive. On November 3, following a tip-off by a Thai woman that Wonggoun was selling charcoal
at the Khoke Matoom Market, the Royal Thai Police
arrested the erstwhile sergeant in Phitsanuloke province.
After his arrest, Wonggoun made several statements that were later published in the Phuket Gazette
. He allegedly confessed to the murder of his wife, admitting to supposedly bludgeon
ing her with a hammer after learning she was eight months pregnant—despite living chaste
with Saner for almost a year. Saner further claimed that his wife had an addiction to gambling and had wasted a lot of money in this fashion. After fleeing the United States in 1994, Saner never withdrew any of his US$81,700 for fear of being traced, nor was he aware that his son had made frequent trips to Thailand in search of his father. Summarizing his time as a fugitive, Wonggoun claimed to have attempted suicide several times: "I have been living in misery all along. I have been living on given time. No happiness or anything at all."
ed on charges of premeditated murder
; the Uniform Code of Military Justice
dictates a potential sentence of death
or life imprisonment
should he be convicted for the murder of his wife.
After his arrest, Wonggoun insisted he be considered as a Thai citizen and subject to Thai court. However, in December 2007 Thailand's Appeals Court found that as the murder took place in the United States, and Wonggoun is legally a US citizen, he should fall subject to the US judicial system.
On February 15, 2008, Wonggoun was transferred to the custody of the AFOSI Detachment 303 at Travis AFB; as OSI investigators believe that Sopha was murdered on base, Marin County relinquished legal jurisdiction to the Air Force.
to determine if a crime occurred and if there is probable cause to go to court-martial based on the evidence provided. During the two-day hearing, the prosecution and defense counsels (Major
s Tara Villena and Mark Etheridge, respectively) called upon and questioned the original Marin County investigator, Detective
Steven Nash, and Wonggoun's 21-year-old daughter, Sophia Wonggoun Burtram.
Burtram emotionally testified to the prosecutor that she may have inadvertently informed her father about her mother's boyfriend shortly before her death. When questioned by the defense council, she bolstered his argument for voluntary manslaughter
, testifying that she had never seen her father act violently or aggressively toward her mother.
The evidence, testimonies, and counselors' arguments are were reviewed by the proceeding's investigating officer, Colonel
Steven Ehlenbeck.
, Wonggoun requested a court trial as opposed to a military jury panel. On July 28, 2008 the court martial of Saner Wonggoun in the murder of his wife began with an entered plea of voluntary manslaughter
. Conditional to this plea, Wonggoun explained he understood the ramifications of his plea and detailed the killing upon questioning by the presiging Judge, Colonel William Burd.
Reiterating some of his November 2006 comments, Wonggoun explained the unplanned January 6, 1994 murder was the result of yet another argument with his wife, Sopha. According to Saner, not only had his wife accrued over US$20,000 in gambling debts over the years, but that on this day he learned that Sopha was pregnant and he was "100 percent" sure the child wasn't his. Retrieving a claw hammer
from his storage room, "... I hit her one time and she fell on the floor, and after that I realized what I did, I lost control of myself ... everything was just dark." Wonggoun explained to Colonel Burd that it was never his intention to kill his wife, but that "I was mad. I wanted to teach her a lesson." Arguing for a ruling of voluntary manslaughter, defense attorneys showed that Wonggoun's own frank candidness about the killing, as well as his "[anger], being in the sudden heat of passion, [was] the only explanation."
Despite Wonggoun's plea, Air Force prosecutors proceeded with a charge of premeditated murder
. TSgt
Don Osborn explained that unlike a civilian trial, "it's not like a plea bargain. He doesn't get to choose." Major Villena argued that the couple's money problems were the impetus for premeditation, and that Saner had been taking issues with his wife's problems for some time beforehand: "He's not going from 0 to 100 in two seconds." Further, Sgt Wonggoun's methodical and systematic cleanup and disposal of his wife's body evidenced calculation beyond a sudden decision for murder.
, a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and allowances, and a reduction in rank to Airman Basic
(E-1). Tarrott also explained that even though Wonggoun will be immediately incarcerated, the sentencing will not go into effect as quickly; Col Burd's recommendations must first be reviewed by the Convening Authority
, Maj Gen
Winfield W. Scott III
with the Eighteenth Air Force
at Scott Air Force Base
in Illinois
, and then may be brought before a military appellate court.
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant is the name of one current and two former enlisted ranks in the United States military.-United States Air Force:Technical Sergeant, or Tech Sergeant, is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. A technical sergeant is...
Saner Wonggoun is a Thai American
Thai American
A Thai American is an American of whose parents or grandparents came from Thailand. Many of them may in fact be of Thai Chinese or at least part Chinese ancestry, but they are still considered to be Thais.-History in U.S.:...
who was the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's top fugitive
Fugitive
A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from private slavery, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals...
from 1994 to 2006 as the principal suspect in his wife's murder. After his November 2006 capture in a Thai market, Wonggoun unsuccessfully fought extradition and eventually pled guilty to—and was convicted of—voluntary manslaughter
Voluntary Manslaughter
Voluntary manslaughter is the killing of a human being in which the offender had no prior intent to kill and acted during "the heat of passion," under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to become emotionally or mentally disturbed. In the Uniform Crime Reports prepared by the...
by court-martial.
, TSgt Wonggoun is imprisoned at Travis Air Force Base, California and awaiting review of his sentencing by Air Force officials.
Immigration and enlistment
Born in Nakhon Nayok, ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Saner Wonggoun moved to the United States
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
at the age of 21 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1976. He gained United States citizenship
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
in 1978, having dual citizenship
Multiple citizenship
Multiple citizenship is a status in which a person is concurrently regarded as a citizen under the laws of more than one state. Multiple citizenships exist because different countries use different, and not necessarily mutually exclusive, citizenship requirements...
with his home nation of Thailand.
Desertion and capture
Assigned to and living on Travis Air Force BaseTravis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
as an air cargo supervisor in January 1994, Wonggoun fled the country on January 14 when wanted for questioning by the authorities of Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The sergeant was the primary suspect in the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of his wife of 12 years (conflicting reports give 13), 42-year old Sopha Wonggoun (née Yodpet).
His wife's body was found a week earlier on January 7, 1994 wrapped in a sleeping bag
Sleeping bag
A sleeping bag is a protective "bag" for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where a bed is unavailable . Its primary purpose is to provide warmth and thermal insulation...
along a deserted road off State Route 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
. At the time of the murder, the couple had two children already and Sopha was eight-months pregnant
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
. An autopsy later determined Sopha died of "blunt force trauma to the head ... consistent with the shape of a hammer."
In the interim three to four days it took to identify the victim and to acquire a search warrant for the Wonggouns' mobile home
Mobile home
Mobile homes or static caravans are prefabricated homes built in factories, rather than on site, and then taken to the place where they will be occupied...
, Saner had received emergency leave and had purchased tickets to Thailand—leaving his vehicle in the short-term parking at San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO...
.
Heading the investigation, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Air Force Office of Special Investigations
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations , is a Field Operating Agency of the United States Air Force that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force...
(AFOSI) named Sergeant Wonggoun their number one fugitive; and, in October 2006, offered age-progressed images and a US$25,000 reward to the public for information leading to the capture of their fugitive. On November 3, following a tip-off by a Thai woman that Wonggoun was selling charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
at the Khoke Matoom Market, the Royal Thai Police
Royal Thai Police
The Royal Thai Police are the national police of Thailand.-About:Primary responsibility for the maintenance of public order through enforcement of the kingdom's laws was exercised by the Thailand National Police Department , a subdivision of the Ministry of Interior...
arrested the erstwhile sergeant in Phitsanuloke province.
After his arrest, Wonggoun made several statements that were later published in the Phuket Gazette
Phuket Gazette
The Phuket Gazette is a weekly English-language tabloid newspaper published in Phuket, Thailand by The Phuket Gazette Co Ltd. in Koh Kaew. Parichart Utintu is listed as being the editor and Stephen Fein is the paper's News Editor. The paper was established in 1993 by John Magee, and Oranee...
. He allegedly confessed to the murder of his wife, admitting to supposedly bludgeon
Bludgeon
Bludgeon may refer to:* Bludgeon , a fictional character* Bludgeon , a club-like weapon* Crabtree's Bludgeon, a foil to Occam's Razor...
ing her with a hammer after learning she was eight months pregnant—despite living chaste
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
with Saner for almost a year. Saner further claimed that his wife had an addiction to gambling and had wasted a lot of money in this fashion. After fleeing the United States in 1994, Saner never withdrew any of his US$81,700 for fear of being traced, nor was he aware that his son had made frequent trips to Thailand in search of his father. Summarizing his time as a fugitive, Wonggoun claimed to have attempted suicide several times: "I have been living in misery all along. I have been living on given time. No happiness or anything at all."
Extradition
Captain Christine Millette with the AFOSI said Wonggoun will be court-martialCourt-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
ed on charges of premeditated murder
Premeditated murder
Premeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully causing the death of another human being after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so, in order to either increase the likelihood of success, or to evade detection or apprehension.State laws in the United States vary as to definitions...
; the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
dictates a potential sentence of death
Capital punishment in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
or life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
should he be convicted for the murder of his wife.
After his arrest, Wonggoun insisted he be considered as a Thai citizen and subject to Thai court. However, in December 2007 Thailand's Appeals Court found that as the murder took place in the United States, and Wonggoun is legally a US citizen, he should fall subject to the US judicial system.
On February 15, 2008, Wonggoun was transferred to the custody of the AFOSI Detachment 303 at Travis AFB; as OSI investigators believe that Sopha was murdered on base, Marin County relinquished legal jurisdiction to the Air Force.
Article 32 hearing
On March 19, 2008, Air Force prosecutors convened an Article 32 hearingArticle 32 hearing
An Article 32 hearing is a proceeding under the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice, similar to that of a preliminary hearing in civilian law. Its name is derived from UCMJ section VII Article An Article 32 hearing is a proceeding under the United States Uniform Code of Military...
to determine if a crime occurred and if there is probable cause to go to court-martial based on the evidence provided. During the two-day hearing, the prosecution and defense counsels (Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
s Tara Villena and Mark Etheridge, respectively) called upon and questioned the original Marin County investigator, Detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
Steven Nash, and Wonggoun's 21-year-old daughter, Sophia Wonggoun Burtram.
Burtram emotionally testified to the prosecutor that she may have inadvertently informed her father about her mother's boyfriend shortly before her death. When questioned by the defense council, she bolstered his argument for voluntary manslaughter
Voluntary Manslaughter
Voluntary manslaughter is the killing of a human being in which the offender had no prior intent to kill and acted during "the heat of passion," under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to become emotionally or mentally disturbed. In the Uniform Crime Reports prepared by the...
, testifying that she had never seen her father act violently or aggressively toward her mother.
The evidence, testimonies, and counselors' arguments are were reviewed by the proceeding's investigating officer, Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Steven Ehlenbeck.
Court-martial
Proceeding to court-martialCourt-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
, Wonggoun requested a court trial as opposed to a military jury panel. On July 28, 2008 the court martial of Saner Wonggoun in the murder of his wife began with an entered plea of voluntary manslaughter
Voluntary Manslaughter
Voluntary manslaughter is the killing of a human being in which the offender had no prior intent to kill and acted during "the heat of passion," under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to become emotionally or mentally disturbed. In the Uniform Crime Reports prepared by the...
. Conditional to this plea, Wonggoun explained he understood the ramifications of his plea and detailed the killing upon questioning by the presiging Judge, Colonel William Burd.
Reiterating some of his November 2006 comments, Wonggoun explained the unplanned January 6, 1994 murder was the result of yet another argument with his wife, Sopha. According to Saner, not only had his wife accrued over US$20,000 in gambling debts over the years, but that on this day he learned that Sopha was pregnant and he was "100 percent" sure the child wasn't his. Retrieving a claw hammer
Claw hammer
A claw hammer is a tool primarily used for pounding nails into, or extracting nails from, some other object. Generally, a claw hammer is associated with woodworking but is not limited to use with wood products...
from his storage room, "... I hit her one time and she fell on the floor, and after that I realized what I did, I lost control of myself ... everything was just dark." Wonggoun explained to Colonel Burd that it was never his intention to kill his wife, but that "I was mad. I wanted to teach her a lesson." Arguing for a ruling of voluntary manslaughter, defense attorneys showed that Wonggoun's own frank candidness about the killing, as well as his "[anger], being in the sudden heat of passion, [was] the only explanation."
Despite Wonggoun's plea, Air Force prosecutors proceeded with a charge of premeditated murder
Premeditated murder
Premeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully causing the death of another human being after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so, in order to either increase the likelihood of success, or to evade detection or apprehension.State laws in the United States vary as to definitions...
. TSgt
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant is the name of one current and two former enlisted ranks in the United States military.-United States Air Force:Technical Sergeant, or Tech Sergeant, is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. A technical sergeant is...
Don Osborn explained that unlike a civilian trial, "it's not like a plea bargain. He doesn't get to choose." Major Villena argued that the couple's money problems were the impetus for premeditation, and that Saner had been taking issues with his wife's problems for some time beforehand: "He's not going from 0 to 100 in two seconds." Further, Sgt Wonggoun's methodical and systematic cleanup and disposal of his wife's body evidenced calculation beyond a sudden decision for murder.
Conviction and sentencing
On July 30, 2008, Colonel Burd ruled with the defense in that Wonggoun was guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the matter of his wife's death. Attorney advisor Greg Tarrott from the Travis AFB legal office spoke with reporters the same day to report that Col Burd recommended a sentence of 10 years military confinementMilitary prison
A military prison is a prison operated by the military. Military prisons are used variously to house prisoners of war, enemy combatants, those whose freedom is deemed a national security risk by the military or national authorities, and members of the military found guilty of a serious crime...
, a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and allowances, and a reduction in rank to Airman Basic
Airman Basic
Airman Basic is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force , immediately below Airman. The pay grade for Airman Basic is E-1.As opposed to all other USAF enlisted and officer ranks, Airman Basic has no rank insignia affiliated...
(E-1). Tarrott also explained that even though Wonggoun will be immediately incarcerated, the sentencing will not go into effect as quickly; Col Burd's recommendations must first be reviewed by the Convening Authority
Convening Authority
The term convening authority is used in United States military law to refer to an individual whose job includes appointing officers to play a role in a court-martial, or similar military tribunal or military commission...
, Maj Gen
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Winfield W. Scott III
Winfield W. Scott III
Major General Winfield W. Scott III is Commander, Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The TACC is responsible for planning, scheduling and directing a fleet of more than 1,200 aircraft in support of combat delivery and strategic airlift, air refueling and aeromedical...
with the Eighteenth Air Force
Eighteenth Air Force
Eighteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It was activated on 1 October 2003 and headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois...
at Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and then may be brought before a military appellate court.