Police investigate mystery death of British father in Cambodia

Police investigate mystery death of British father found dead by his wife ‘with black bag over his head’ at their home in Cambodia

• Jonathon Stock, 34, from Newcastle, was found dead by his wife at their home
• He was allegedly found with a black bag over his head by his wife Meiling, 39
• Stock had reportedly stayed at home sleeping while wife took children to school

Police are investigating the mystery death of a British father who was allegedly found with a black bag over his head by his wife at their home in Cambodia.

Jonathon Stock, 34, from Newcastle upon Tyne, reportedly stayed at home sleeping while his wife Meiling, 39, and their two young children left for school in the western Battambang province on November 30 at around 6.15 am.

However, when his wife returned home three hours later, Jonathan was found lifeless by the doorway of their home in the Sangke district.

Meiling told police that a black plastic bag, found by investigators about 2 feet away from the body, covered his head when she saw him. She said she called her relatives for help and the bag was removed.

Jonathon Stock, 34, from Newcastle upon Tyne, reportedly stayed at home sleeping while his wife Meiling, 39, and their two young children left for school in the western Battambang province on November 30 at around 6.15 am. His wife found him dead on her return

Meiling told police that a black plastic bag, found by investigators about 2 feet away from the body, covered his head when she saw him

Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner Lim Puthyla, who is investigating the case, said: ‘Mr Stock was found dead by his wife at home. We are closely looking at the case.

‘Our investigators will interview other people who knew the deceased. We will find the true cause of death.

‘Currently we only have the testimony from one witness.’

The incident was first ruled out as suicide, but authorities were urged to probe more following speculations about his death. 

Local media reported that there were ‘inconsistencies’ between his wife’s evidence to police and what she told reporters. It was unclear where Jonathan was when she left, with Meiling allegedly telling one reporter that he was cooking breakfast.

Neighbours also said that the couple ‘were often in conflict’ and that they had ‘a dispute’ the night before.

Ko Sun Kaing, the director of the Office of Serious Crimes, said police were also looking at whether Jonathan suffered a heart attack. Investigators are waiting for the results of a post mortem examination.

When his wife returned to their home (pictured), Jonathan was found lifeless by the doorway of their home in the Sangke district of the city

He added: ‘I do not know the cause of death yet because I have not received the report from the district. I went down to the scene to observe the investigators working.’

Speaking with police, Meiling said that she had left her husband alone in the bedroom.

She said: ‘I woke up my child and we went to her Chinese school. My husband asked to sleep more.

‘After school I went to eat noodles at the market. When I arrived home around 9:20 am, I saw my husband dead by the doorway.’

Meiling, who has been married to Christian missionary school teacher Jonathan for around ten years, reportedly called her mother and brother for help and contacted the police.

Jonathan, who had lived in Cambodia for more than a decade, taught at the Christian SBS school in the province and authored several books on the Khmer language. He was fluent in both speaking and writing the language and helped his wife run their coffee shop business.

Officers are now looking for more witnesses as they have only gathered information from wife, Meiling, who was the last to see Jonathan alive before she found him dead.

Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Phnom Penh said it had no objection to the family of Jonathan making funeral arrangements. They have also informed Jonathan’s family in the UK.

It said: ‘We request relevant local authorities to assist in this matter and allow the family make proceed with funeral arrangement accordingly.’

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