A manhunt was underway in Phichit on Monday for a Thai woman and her French boyfriend suspected of murdering an Italian man she was dating and whose burned and dismembered body was discovered on Friday.
Giuseppe de Stefani, 61, was believed to have been killed by his girlfriend, Rujira Klaylamai, 38, and Amuary Rigaud, 33, her French boyfriend, according to Thawatchai Muannara, chief of the Phichit provincial police.
The manhunt was launched after the dismembered torso of a foreign man was discovered in a forest near Bueang Thap Chan, a freshwater pond in the Bung Na Rang district of Phichit.
Two arms and a right leg bearing a tattoo were also retrieved from the scene.
De Stefani's identity was later confirmed by Ms Rujira's daughter after she recognised the tattoo, police said.
Ms Rujira was reportedly involved in a love triangle with de Stefani and Mr Rigaud. She was living with the latter at a house in the area. Ms Rujira also has an estranged Thai husband, with whom she has two children.
While searching for evidence, police were tipped off by local residents about a Thai woman and a foreign man who they suspected may have been involved in the incident.
Police drove by their house and saw Ms Rujira and Mr Rigaud washing their car, a bronze Toyota Yaris with a Samut Songkhram licence plate.
Their suspicions of foul play grew stronger after neighbours said the couple had spent an unusually long time washing the car.
Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai said the couple then fled using the same car as a getaway vehicle. Investigators searched the house and found a letter from de Stefani addressed to Ms Rujira. It read: "You told me that you loved me only because you wanted money. I have never met a bad person like you before."
Police also found charcoal and firewood at the house.
Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai said more people may have colluded in the murder as CCTV footage showed other vehicles leaving the scene.
