Headless corpse found in flood shelter in Nong Khai
A woman intending to open her home for flood victims discovered the headless corpse of a man in a state of advanced decomposition submerged in water. Police have not yet identified the deceased, and no missing person reports have been filed in the area.
Police Lieutenant Netipong Jamnongnit from Tha Bo Police Station in Nong Khai province was informed of the discovery yesterday, September 17. He reported the incident and proceeded to the scene with a medical examiner from Somdej Phra Yuparat Tha Bo Hospital, along with rescue teams from Tha Bo district and Phon Sa Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, and the Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
At the half-brick, half-timber house in Ban Sila Lek, Moo 7, Phon Sa subdistrict, officers found the body of a man wearing a T-shirt and shorts. The corpse was highly decomposed and submerged in water, with the head located under the right foot. No identification documents were found on the body.
Upon investigating the scene, police discovered a rope tied to a beam under the house. The rope was collected as evidence. The initial autopsy revealed no signs of physical assault, and it is estimated that the man had been dead for about one month.
The homeowner, 61 year old Amornrat Pajjamat stated that this house is her secondary residence and has been unoccupied since 2008. She recently opened it to provide shelter for those affected by flooding.
“Today, someone who was about to take shelter informed me of the body inside the house. I immediately came to check and notified the police. I have no idea who the deceased is or where he came from, as the house had been vacant for a long time.”
Amornrat added that there had been previous rumours in the community about an old man’s corpse inside the house, which no one believed, thinking the person who mentioned it was not of sound mind. The discovery of the body today confirmed those rumours.
Preliminary assumptions by the police suggest that the deceased might have entered the house for shelter and committed suicide by hanging, as evidenced by the rope dangling from the house beam. The head might have detached from the body due to prolonged hanging.
Alternatively, the deceased could have fallen ill and died while seeking refuge. The body’s decomposition in water and possible animal interference might have caused the head to detach. The person with mental health issues might have witnessed the body a long time ago and informed the locals, but no one took it seriously.
Investigations in Nong Khai province have not revealed any missing person reports. The police will transfer the body to the morgue at Somdej Phra Yuparat Tha Bo Hospital for further legal procedures. Anyone suspecting the deceased might be a relative can contact Tha Bo Police Station during regular business hours with relevant evidence, reported KhaoSod.
If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.
