Air Force technical sergeant sentenced to decade in prison for killing of wife

61-year-old Saner Wonggoun, a former Travis Air Force Base technical sergeant, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge, and forfeiture of all pay and benefits in the January 6, 1994 manslaughter of his wife after her affair.

After learning that his wife was pregnant by another man, he bludgeoned her to death with a claw hammer, and wrapped her body in plastic and a sleeping bag, driving it to an isolated Marin County beach.

Military judge Col. William Burd sentenced Wonggoun Wednesday, July 30 while crediting him with 635 days of confinement. The judge ruled that Wonggun was guilty of voluntary manslaughter, rejecting military prosecutors’ contention that he was guilty of unpremeditated murder. The voluntary manslaughter charge was what his defense attorneys were arguing, saying "in heat of passion caused by adequate provocation."

Wonngun made plans to flee the country back to his native Thailand, arranged for friend to look after his kids and paid them $50,000 for their expenses.

He wasn't seen again until November 2006, when Thai police - working with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations - located him selling charcoal in a village market.

He was returned to the United States last February and subsequently confessed to the killing, explaining that he was in a blinding rage when the attack occurred.Co-counsel Capt. Jason Largey told the court that Wonggoun had clearly acted out of uncontrolled rage when his wife informed him that she was pregnant with another man's child.

"He had no plan that day, just rage at his wife," Largey said. "Sgt. Wonggoun lost it. This revelation on a lunch break from work shattered Sgt. Wonggoun's world."

Wonggun explained that he had a seargent as a mentor in his native Thailand.
The contact with a U.S. Air Force technical sergeant led to Wonggun’s immigration to the US, entering the Air Force, and obtaining the rank of tech seargent and a 19 year career, he lamented that his career and life was destroyed by his actions.

"I'm sorry for everything I did," Wonggoun concluded.

The case will be forwarded to Scott AFB in Illinois for final resolution.