A 19-year-old man was brutally murdered, with more than 30 stab wounds from a sharp object across his body. His corpse was buried to conceal it in a eucalyptus forest in Sisaket Province. Police are currently working to solve the case and find leads on the suspect.
On 1 March 2026 in Sisaket Province, reporters were informed of a young male body found buried in a eucalyptus forest near the back of Ban Maikaen Temple. Upon arrival at the scene, located in the Maikaen village, Samrong Phlan subdistrict, Phrai Bueng district, Sisaket Province, police officers along with forensic teams and rescue workers from Sawangjit Sisaket Thammasathan rescue stations at Phrai Bueng, Khun Han, and Khukhan were examining the site and inspecting the body.
At the scene, the body of a teenage male was found, later identified as Mr. Sitthisak or Mix Thanphan, aged 19. He wore black long jeans and a black long-sleeve shirt, and was buried about 20 cm deep in a grave approximately 1.9 meters long, covered with leaves for concealment. Inside his pockets were 100 baht and a lighter. Examination of the body revealed more than 30 stab wounds from sharp, pointed objects. At the scene, a pair of shoes believed to belong to the victim, a cigarette pack, a bottle of alcoholic beverage, and a broken pointed knife about 15 cm long were found. Multiple blood stains were also present around the area.
According to local residents, on the night of the incident, just before midnight, another young man was injured and sought help. He was later identified as Mr. Kittisak (nickname On) Donpaeng, 19 years old. He sustained multiple stab wounds: two under his right nipple and four on his back, resulting in severe injuries. He was transferred to Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani Province. His condition is critical, with a 50-50 chance of survival and currently on a ventilator.
Mr. Boonliang Phaiwong, the village headman of Moo 12, Ban Maikaen, who discovered the body, said that on the night of 28 February 2026 around 11 p.m., there was a fight among youths resulting in injuries. While assisting, he asked the injured man who he came with; the man said he was with two friends. When asked about the whereabouts of the other friend, the injured replied he did not know as they had fled in different directions.
Mr. Boonliang added that after taking the injured man to the hospital, police arrived at the scene. The next morning, relatives of the injured, including the subdistrict headman from Phrai subdistrict, Khun Han district, came searching but found only the injured person. The other friend, who arrived together on a yellow motorcycle, was still missing.
Later, villagers retraced the blood trail starting from the temple, following bloodstains on leaves and tire tracks from a motorcycle, leading to the burial site. It was initially reported that the injured claimed to have been attacked elsewhere. The deceased’s body was found covered with soil and leaves to conceal his face completely.
Mr. Manee Benmat, the subdistrict headman of Phrai, Khun Han district, and the victim’s grandfather, said that Mr. Sitthisak Thanphan, or “Nong Mix,” 19, was his grandson. He previously helped him enlist as a volunteer soldier and was awaiting his reporting in April.
Regarding the cause of the incident, he said he did not know the reason because they rarely spoke much when together. Mostly, the grandson borrowed his motorcycle, and he would fill the fuel. Their communication was usually when the grandson asked for money. The last time he saw him was on 28 February 2026, around 6 p.m. at home, and he appeared restless, as if worried about something. Usually, he would place money in different spots around the house for the grandson to pick up; the last amount placed was 40 baht.
When he learned today that his grandson had died, he admitted he had no premonition and did not know the motive. He was also unsure if the crime was being concealed. The mother of the injured person contacted him to assist after learning that a good Samaritan brought the injured to a local hospital the previous night.
The subdistrict headman added that he did not know the true cause of this incident but wished to tell the perpetrator that if there is any problem, they should come forward to talk and ensure justice for all parties, whether citizens or officials. However, once the crime is committed, the offender must accept the consequences and he urged the perpetrator to apologize to the victim, as the act was extremely cruel.
Mrs. Ura Sridachart, 66, a local resident who helped the injured, said that she was asleep during the incident and did not witness it. The injured man knocked on her door for help, saying, “Grandma, please help me, take me to the hospital.”
She replied that she could not use a phone but quickly called the assistant village headman for help. When they came out, they saw the injured man was covered in blood but did not know where he had been attacked. She was not very shocked initially because she thought he might be her own grandson. However, she had never seen this man before, and incidents like this had never occurred in the village before.
The village headman then advised not to let the injured person drink water for safety reasons and coordinated to take him to the hospital for treatment.