An American diplomat who spent his career dismantling international criminal networks was found stabbed to death in the head and neck on May 11 at a hotel in Yangon, Myanmar — and his ex-wife is now facing murder charges that could carry the death penalty.
Daniel Riva, a 43-year-old Long Island native, was discovered at the Sakura Residence & Hotel, a property less than a mile from the U.S. Embassy in Yangon and a familiar stopover for American diplomats and expatriates stationed in the country. His ex-wife, Pavinee Supasirivisan, a Thai national, was arrested on murder charges shortly after his body was found.
A Career Built on Fighting Organized Crime
Riva grew up in East Norwich, on Long Island, and built a diplomatic career that carried him across two continents before landing him in one of the world’s most politically volatile postings. He served in Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, working as a Diplomatic Security Service special agent in a regional security role — work that put him at the center of efforts to investigate passport and visa fraud and coordinate with local law enforcement on cross-border threats including human trafficking, terrorism, and arms smuggling. From Suriname he moved to East Timor in Asia before taking up his position at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon.
Those who served alongside him described a man defined as much by his warmth as by his professional dedication. Fellow diplomat Fausto De Guzman said Riva “lived life to the fullest, often exploring the island on his motorbike and embracing every adventure,” adding that he “will be deeply missed.” De Guzman said Riva’s readiness to assist others and his authentic kindness were constants in every setting.
Childhood friend Matt Grant, who knew Riva for 40 years, described a bond that stretched back to nursery school. In a tribute, Grant said Riva was “effortlessly cool, endlessly curious and the most kind, caring, hilarious and thoughtful person I have ever known.” A funeral was held for Riva in Oyster Bay, New York, on June 13.
The Suspect and the Charges She Faces
Supasirivisan, who married Riva in June 2018, is a trained pastry chef originally from Bangkok. She studied at the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school and later built a home-based baking and cooking business, along with a YouTube channel featuring recipes and cooking tutorials. The couple’s separation date remains unclear.
According to an attorney familiar with the proceedings — who spoke anonymously to the Associated Press — Supasirivisan appeared at her second hearing at Kamayut Township Court in Myanmar on Tuesday. That appearance was on an immigration-related charge that Myanmar applies to foreign nationals who commit crimes within its borders, separate from the murder allegation. The immigration charge alone carries a potential sentence of six months to five years. The murder charge is far more severe: under Myanmar law, a conviction can bring at least 10 years in prison, and the death penalty remains a possibility. Thailand’s foreign ministry confirmed it had been in contact with the woman’s family and was providing consular assistance.
A Legal System Shrouded in Secrecy
Myanmar’s judicial process offers little transparency in cases like this one. The country has been under military rule since the 2021 coup that removed democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power, and court proceedings are routinely closed to journalists and independent observers. Officials and witnesses who have already testified have been reluctant to speak publicly, citing the strict constraints imposed by military governance. Three prosecution witnesses testified during Tuesday’s hearing, along with two legal representatives for the defendant, but the proceedings themselves remained inaccessible to the press. Whether Supasirivisan has entered a plea on either charge is not yet publicly known, and no trial date on the murder allegation has been set.
The case has drawn international attention not only because of Riva’s diplomatic status but because the opacity of Myanmar’s military-controlled legal system makes independent verification of the proceedings nearly impossible. The Sakura Residence & Hotel, where Riva was found, sits just steps from the embassy compound he reported to each day — a detail that has heightened scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding his death.
State Department Confirms the Death
The U.S. State Department acknowledged the loss of one of its personnel but offered little beyond a brief confirmation. A department spokesman said the agency could confirm the death of a U.S. government employee assigned to the embassy in Yangon, adding that out of respect for his family’s privacy, no further details would be provided. The department did not address the nature of the charges against Supasirivisan or comment on the status of the Myanmar court proceedings.
Riva’s case now moves through a legal system where international oversight is limited and the path to justice remains anything but certain.