Phrae canal mystery: Bald death discovery leaves locals scratching heads

A chilling discovery was made when a man stopped for a roadside break and stumbled upon the body of an unidentified bald man floating face down in a canal in Phrae Province. The police initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of death and identify the deceased, urging anyone who may have a missing relative to contact the police.

The distressing incident unfolded yesterday, October 29, when Police Lieutenant Thawisak Tuiboonma of Mueang Phrae Police Station received a report about a body floating in the water near the floodgate of the main irrigation canal on the left side of the Yom River, within the vicinity of Moo 7, Ban Thung Nam Sai, Mueang Mo subdistrict, Mueang district, Phrae province.

He promptly informed Police Colonel Surachai Jantaramanee, acting superintendent of Muang Phrae Police Station, and proceeded to the scene with an investigative team, Phrae rescue units, and a medical examiner from Phrae Hospital.

Upon arrival at the location behind the floodgate, officials encountered the distressing sight of a swollen, unclothed body lying face down in the water. The initial examination revealed no visible injuries on the body, which belonged to a bald elderly man, approximately 150 centimetres tall. However, the identity of the deceased remains unknown.

A local recounted the events leading to the discovery. He said he had been returning home from a night of drinking at a friend’s house when he stopped to relieve himself in the area.

He was struck by a foul smell emanating from the canal, and upon glancing in, he noticed what appeared to be a body. Initially dismissing the sight, he returned home.

Body found

However, curiosity got the better of him, and by the afternoon, he returned to confirm his suspicions, leading to the grim discovery of the body and the subsequent notification of the police.

Lieutenant Thawisak recorded the environmental conditions as evidence and instructed the Phrae rescue unit to retrieve the body from the canal. The body was transported to Phrae Hospital for a thorough autopsy to determine the precise cause of death, while efforts continue to trace any relatives of the deceased, reported KhaoSod.

The Mueang Phrae Police Station issued a radio alert to various precincts and has coordinated with village leaders to check if any locals have gone missing. They have encouraged anyone who suspects the deceased could be a missing relative to reach out to Mueang Phrae Police Station for further information.