BANJAR, INDONESIA: Arthur Leigh Welohr, a 35-year-old from San Francisco, has been accused of killing his father-in-law, Agus Sopiyan, 58, by stabbing him in the neck and severing his head.
The incident occurred on Sunday in Banjar, West Java, Indonesia, where Welohr and Sopiyan were partners in a business venture that was reportedly going downhill.
How did a failing business lead to a fatal argument?
According to Viral Press, as reported by Fox News, the two men had a heated argument that turned violent with Welohr allegedly overpowering Sopiyan and slashing his throat with a knife.
Neighbours said they heard shouting but did not intervene as they thought it was a normal dispute.
“The neighbours here initially thought it was just an ordinary argument. But it turned out he pushed and slit his father-in-law’s throat,” a witness named Rizal told Viral Press.
Welohr was caught by local residents who witnessed the gruesome scene and held him until the police arrived.
Video footage from the scene showed Sopiyan’s head hanging from his shoulders behind his house. Police said the victim was found in “terrible condition” with his head detached from the neck.
Arthur Leigh Welohr had a history of confrontation with his father-in-law
Yayat Ruhiyat, the chief of the Raharja Village where the incident took place, said that Welohr had a history of confrontation with his father-in-law.
He had even damaged his house in the past, but was never arrested for “various reasons.”
“The police did not make any arrests until this incident occurred,” Ruhiyat said, adding that Welohr’s wife had paid for the repairs to her parents’ home.
Nandi Darmawan, the head of public relations for the Banjar Police, said that a suspect in the case “has been arrested” but the investigation is still ongoing.
“We will convey the results of further investigations when all the investigations have been completed,” Darmawan said.
Arthur Leigh Welohr felt his father-in-law had been hindering his relationship with his wife
According to Banjar Police Chief of Investigation AKP Ali Jupr, Welohr told police that he killed his father-in-law because he felt that he was interfering with his marriage.
“He felt that he himself was being attacked and finally carried out the killing,” Jupr said.
