Indonesian authorities have arrested an American man for allegedly beheading his father-in-law during a dispute over a failing family business.
Arthur Leigh Welohr, a 35-year-old resident of San Francisco, was taken into custody in Banjar, West Java, Indonesia, in connection with the stabbing death of his 58-year-old father-in-law, Agus Sopiyan, as reported by Viral Press.
The incident occurred on Sunday, after a verbal argument erupted between Welohr and Sopiyan, who were involved in a joint business venture that was reportedly facing difficulties. According to witnesses, the neighbors heard shouting but dismissed it as a typical argument.
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Arthur Leigh Welohr, a 35-year-old resident of San Francisco, has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his father-in-law to death. (Viral Press)
The argument escalated into a physical altercation, with Welohr allegedly assaulting his father-in-law, overpowering him, knocking him to the ground, and ultimately stabbing him with a knife.
Local witnesses were able to subdue Welohr at the scene and held him until the police arrived.
Reports indicate that video footage captured Sopiyan’s decapitated body, with his head detached from his neck, in the aftermath of the incident. Police described the victim as being in a “terrible condition” when discovered behind his house.
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“Initially, the neighbors thought it was just a regular argument. However, it turned out that [Welohr] pushed his father-in-law to the ground and slit his throat,” said a witness named Rizal to Viral Press. Rizal further explained that bystanders failed to intervene due to the rapid escalation of the verbal dispute.
Indonesian police officers. (Mas Agung Wilis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nandi Darmawan, the head of public relations for the Banjar Police, stated that a suspect “has been arrested” in connection with the case; however, the investigation is ongoing.
“We will provide the results of further investigations once they are completed,” stated Darmawan.
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According to Yayat Ruhiyat, the chief of Raharja Village where the incident unfolded, Welohr had a history of confrontations with his father-in-law. Welohr had allegedly vandalized Sopiyan’s house in the past; however, he was never arrested for “various reasons.”
(Local witnesses held the American at the scene while awaiting the arrival of police. (Viral Press))
“Until this incident occurred, the police did not make any arrests,” Ruhiyat affirmed, noting that Welohr’s wife had previously covered the costs of repairing her parents’ property damage.
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Based on statements provided to the authorities by Welohr, Banjar Police Chief of Investigation AKP Ali Jupr stated that the accused committed the act due to feeling that his father-in-law was hindering his relationship with his wife.
“He believed that he was being attacked and resorted to killing his father-in-law,” explained Jupr.
