**Ex-Thailand Police Chief Joe Ferrari Found Dead in Prison Cell Amid Controversy**

Thitisan Utthanaphon, known as Joe Ferrari, died by alleged suicide, but his family disputes this, prompting authorities to launch an inquiry.

A former Thai police chief, Thitisan Utthanaphon, popularly known as "Joe Ferrari" due to his impressive collection of luxury cars, has been discovered dead in his Bangkok prison cell. Authorities reported that the preliminary autopsy suggests the cause of death was suicide. Thitisan had been serving a life sentence since 2021 after a shocking video surfaced, depicting him and other officers suffocating a 24-year-old drug suspect, Jirapong Thanapat, during an interrogation, which ultimately led to the suspect's death. The clip caused a significant uproar over police brutality within Thailand, attracting renewed attention on social media following Thitisan's death.

The Thai justice ministry has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Thitisan's death, especially as his family has raised concerns, questioning whether he truly committed suicide. They disclosed that they were denied access to his body and alleged prior assaults by prison staff. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong called for the complete disclosure of evidence related to the death and urged prison officials to assist with the investigation.

Thitisan was known to have an extravagant lifestyle, reportedly owning more than 40 luxury vehicles, including rare models like the Lamborghini Aventador Anniversario, valued at approximately $1.45 million in Thailand. Despite earning a salary of around $1,000 a month as a police colonel, allegations arose that he sought bribes from Jirapong during the torture incident, a claim he denied before surrendering in 2021 after an extensive manhunt.

In addition to Thitisan, five other police officers were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for Jirapong's murder the following year. Jirapong's father remarked that "karma" had caught up with Thitisan in a recent interview, reflecting the deep societal impact of the case and the call for accountability within the police force. The Department of Corrections stated that Thitisan had previously filed complaints alleging mistreatment by prison guards and had consulted doctors for anxiety and sleep issues. His family's visit on the day of his death reportedly did not reveal any signs of distress as noted by prison staff.