Two people wanted for the murder of a young woman whose body was found in a stream in Khon Kaen have been arrested separately in Trat and Surin provinces.
Thongchai Klangmuang, 30, the boyfriend of the victim, is accused of killing Patya Puangsook after causing her of being overly friendly with other men. He was caught at a friend’s house in Trat, while accused accomplice Thampassorn Phuttharaksa, 26, was arrested at a resort in Surin.
The pair were charged with colluding in the murder and concealing the body, said Pol Maj Gen Prommanatthakhet Hamkhampai, chief of Khon Kaen police.
The decomposing body of Patya, 22, with tattoos on both arms, was found in the Huai Phra stream in Muang district of Khon Kaen on Wednesday. There was a gunshot wound to the forehead and the skull was dented. There were also many bruises on the body. She had been a resident of Ban Kud Kwang village in Nam Phong district of Khon Kaen.
Police investigators examined closed-circuit security video from an apartment in downtown Muang district that shed light to the murder. It showed a man and a woman carrying what was believed to be Patya’s body to a motorcycle.
Evidence seized from the pair included a motorcycle used for transporting the body, clothes and mobile phones of the suspects.
Pol Col Pakpoom Pisamai, chief of the Muang district station, said the two suspects, the victim and another man identified as Athip Phutthasongkran were at a restaurant before the incident. They later went to Mr Thongchai’s apartment room to drink.
While drinking, Mr Thongchai quarrelled with Patya as he was upset that she had been chatting and taking selfies with other men at the restaurant. He suddenly pulled out a pistol and fired a shot at her head in full view of Ms Thampassorn and Mr Athip, officers said.
Mr Athip subsequently said he needed to use the bathroom and then planned to go out to the store. He left the room and never returned.
Mr Thongchai then asked Ms Thampassporn to help carry the victim’s body to the motorcycle. The woman rode the bike, with Mr Thongchai ridding pillion and carrying the body. The pair then dumped the body into the Huai Phra stream, said Pol Col Pakpoom.
