Men held in McRowan case


Police in Thailand have arrested two men in the shooting deaths of a Fairview couple who claimed royal Lao heritage, linking them also to the killings of anti-Laos government rebels.




Thai national Athit Klinchan told investigators after his arrest this week that he was hired by the government of Laos to assassinate opponents of its communist regime, Thai police said Thursday.




Police arrested Athit on Wednesday in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, near the border with Laos, in connection with a separate murder May 11. Police also arrested Suwat Suthang in that killing.




During interrogation, police said they found the two were linked to other killings, including the deaths of Phillip and Ashley McRowan. Athit said an accomplice fired the shots that killed the McRowans.




The McRowans were gunned down Jan. 18 while visiting a monastery in northeast Thailand near Laos. They often traveled from Fairvew to Thailand, working in education efforts within the Lao community.




Local reaction




The couple’s friends in Asheville expressed shock and feelings of closure. Another said the arrest made no difference.




“I’ve already had closure, and it has nothing to do with that man being arrested,” said Dr. Judith Sides, who worked with Phillip McRowan in the pathology department at Mission Hospitals and who was with the McRowans on their last trip.




Thai investigators believe the McRowans were in Thailand to gather financial support for a political movement against Laos’ communist government. Those close to the couple say they knew of no political involvement.




Some friends said they believed the case would never be solved.




“I wasn’t optimistic with the last story I read,” said Mona Cornwell, director of communications at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. “I am pleased to see they have somebody in custody. I hope this will bring some closure, especially to Ashley and Phillip’s family and the children.”




A-B Tech President K. Ray Bailey said the arrest meant friends might get answers to questions about the McRowans’ deaths.




“What we’ve all been looking for is some answers as to why and conclusions,” he said. “It may bring peace of mind, though it will never bring them back.”




The couple, also known as Prince Anouvong and Princess Oulayvanh Sethathirath, were living with two sons who attended Fairview Elementary and Reynolds High School.




Reports from Thailand




According the reports from Thai newspaper The Nation, Suwat confessed he and Athit had already killed 17 anti-Laos rebels.




The two suspects were called “Assassins of Mekong,” according to The Nation.




Athit said a fugitive accomplice fired the fatal shots in the McRowan killings, according to police.




Athit told police he was hired by the Lao government to commit the murders and paid about $2,600 for each assassination.




The Associated Press and The Nation of Bangkok contributed to this report.