Bang bua thong: Police are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of a young man who went missing for over a week after using a dating app. He was later found murdered and his body dumped in a house belonging to a member of the LGBTQ+ community who has since mysteriously disappeared. CCTV footage only showed him riding a motorcycle away on June 2nd.
According to Thai News Agency, CCTV footage from a neighbor shows Mr. Suraphat, a 28-year-old LGBTQ+ man and owner of the house where the incident occurred, riding his motorcycle out of his house in Moo 6, Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province at 6:19 AM on June 2nd. That day, Mr. Suraphat was wearing a gray long-sleeved jacket, long jeans, and a full-face helmet. He opened the gate and wheeled his red motorcycle out of the house before closing the gate, starting the engine, and driving away without any apparent haste. Neighbors and others didn't suspect anything unusual. It wasn't until 9:00 PM on June 4th that everyone discovered the lifeless body of Mr. Sakdinnont, 28, lying face-up on the landing of the stairs inside the house. He was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and a long wig. The body was decomposed, with dried blood on the ground. It is estimated that he had been dead for at least a week. Police also found a fanny pack containing 3-4 syringes, believed to be drug paraphernal ia.
Regarding this incident, Police Colonel Tharsakorn Konthong, the superintendent of Bang Bua Thong Police Station, revealed that they received a report of a foul odor emanating from the house, suggesting a death had occurred several days prior. Upon investigation, the forensic team and coroner confirmed that the death had occurred at least seven days prior. Neighbors stated that only two people lived in the house before the tragedy: Mr. Suraphat, the homeowner, and the deceased. Given the fact that the body had been deceased for at least seven days, Mr. Suraphat is considered the primary suspect. It is believed he was with the body for several days and attempted to conceal it, as evidence showed ammonia was poured around the house, presumably to mask the smell, before he left on his motorcycle on June 2nd, leaving the body hidden inside. Neighbors unanimously stated that Mr. Suraphat was withdrawn and rarely socialized, but a male friend frequently visited his house.
The mother of the deceased stated that on May 26th, her son said he was going to visit a friend near Wat Lat Pladuk but didn't have any money, so he messaged the homeowner. He told her to call a ride-hailing app at 7:30 PM. Around midnight, her son called from an emergency number, but she didn't answer because she was asleep. She saw on her phone the next morning that her son had called seven times. When she tried to call him back, she couldn't. She then filed a police report. She also stated that she knew and had arranged to meet the homeowner through a ride-hailing app. Neighbors recounted seeing the deceased, a tall, thin man with long hair wearing black clothing, arriving at Mr. Suraphat's house in a ride-hailing app 5-6 days prior. Several days later, they noticed a strong foul odor, believing someone had died, but no one paid attention when they told them. Finally, unable to tolerate it any longer, they asked a neighbor who is a rescue worker to secretly check the backyard, where they discovered the bod y. The rescue worker then called the police. Neighbors confirmed that the homeowner is LGBTQ+, frequently changes partners, and that this person was likely a new acquaintance. Mr. Suraphat, the homeowner, was known to relax in front of his house, talk to himself against the wall, and recite Thai and sometimes Islamic prayers. They said he was generally coherent in conversations.
Ms. Boonchuey Laomaninoparat, the village head of Moo 6, Bang Rak Pattana, stated that she did not know the deceased, only the homeowner. She explained that there had been a previous case of unlawful confinement of a man in this house, and that this man was likely a new victim. She had previously helped a man who had been held captive for three days, emaciated and without food or water. Using her authority as village head, she contacted the police to cut the lock and rescue him. However, the homeowner refused to cooperate and wouldn't cooperate with a police report. She added that similar incidents involving strangers have occurred frequently in the area, and she suspects this man was also lured there before his death.