Thailand Authorities Detain British Husband of Woman Found Dead in Yorkshire Dales Over 20 Years Ago
In a surprising turn of events, the British husband of Lamduan Armitage, the Thai woman whose body was discovered in the Yorkshire Dales more than two decades ago, has been detained by police in Thailand. The case, which has baffled investigators for years, took a new twist when walkers stumbled upon the half-naked body of Lamduan Armitage in a stream near Pen-y-ghent in 2004. Her identity remained a mystery for 15 years until her family saw a BBC News report, prompting them to come forward. David Armitage, who has been residing in Thailand since his wife’s tragic death, never reported her missing and has evaded interviews with both Thai and British authorities regarding her disappearance.
The latest development in this long-standing case saw David Armitage being apprehended in Bangkok as Thai authorities make preparations to revoke his visa. According to BBC journalist Issariya Praithongyaem, Mr. Armitage, who holds a resident visa, was taken into custody at his residence in Kanchanaburi before being transferred to the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre. Notably, Armitage did not file an immigration petition, leading to the revocation of his right to stay in Thailand. His future now hangs in the balance as he faces the prospect of returning to the UK or relocating to another country.
The investigation into Lamduan Armitage’s death is being spearheaded by North Yorkshire Police, who have been closely monitoring the developments surrounding her husband’s detainment in Thailand. A spokesperson for the police force acknowledged the situation, emphasizing that it pertains to Mr. Armitage’s visa status and residency in Thailand and falls under the jurisdiction of the immigration service of the Royal Thai Police. If Armitage is indeed deported, he will likely have the choice of returning to the UK, where authorities plan to engage with him regarding the ongoing investigation.
Despite not having direct contact with David Armitage, the BBC has reported his denial of any involvement in his wife’s demise, as per information from The Sun. Lamduan Armitage, formerly known as Seekanya, earned the moniker “Lady of the Hills” during the efforts to identify her following the discovery of her body in September 2004. A post-mortem examination conducted at the time failed to conclusively determine the cause of her death, leaving investigators with unanswered questions surrounding her identity and the circumstances of her passing.
In a bid to unravel the mystery surrounding Lamduan Armitage’s tragic fate, a cold case review was launched in 2016, leveraging advancements in forensic science to shed light on the case. Years later, a breakthrough emerged when a Thai family came across the story and believed the woman could be their missing daughter, who vanished in 2004. This revelation prompted North Yorkshire Police to conduct DNA testing
