Police tracked and arrested a man who murdered and dismembered his friend, disposing of the body parts in a eucalyptus forest in Chachoengsao. The suspect claimed an argument erupted during a drinking session, which led to his loss of temper. Later, a villager collecting mushrooms found the body parts.
At 3:30 p.m. on 24 July 2016, Police Colonel Preecha Nisaitham, Superintendent of Plang Yao Police Station, led the investigative team in tracking and pursuing the suspect involved in the dismemberment case. The body parts were found in the middle of a eucalyptus forest in Ban Pong Nok Bao, Lat Krathing Subdistrict, Sanam Chai Khet District, Chachoengsao Province, at the border area of Village No. 9, Huasamrong Subdistrict, Plang Yao District. The suspect, later identified as Mr. Ronakit, 41, was arrested.
This follows a report at 4:40 p.m. on 23 July, when Police Colonel Preecha Nisaitham led the Plang Yao investigative team and patrol unit 20 to the area with the Chachoengsao Provincial Police after villagers found a human arm that appeared to have been cut by a sharp object. Based on surrounding evidence at the scene, it was suspected to be a murder. Previously, a villager had reported a missing person to Plang Yao Police Station.
Police Colonel Preecha Nisaitham then coordinated with the investigative team from Sanam Chai Khet Police Station to conduct a thorough investigation, which led to the detention of the suspect, Mr. Ronakit, 41. Initially, his statements were inconsistent, but he later confessed to killing his friend, Mr. Boonlert Bantersuk, 51. The incident occurred around 10:20 p.m. on 15 July 2016 at the suspect's home after drinking alcohol and a verbal argument escalated into rage. He killed the victim, then cut off the left arm and discarded it in the eucalyptus forest in Village No. 9, Huasamrong Subdistrict, Plang Yao District, near the border area. He then disposed of the torso and head about 500 meters from where the arm was discarded.
Asked about the discovery, Ms. Wi (pseudonym), 58, a villager who found the arm and reported it to Plang Yao police, said she was working as a laborer and came across what appeared to be a human arm. She was very shocked but did not know what had happened.
Police Colonel Preecha Nisaitham reported the case to his superiors. Subsequently, Police Colonel Somchai Yusawat, Deputy Commander of Chachoengsao Provincial Police, visited the scene and ordered the suspect to be taken to Plang Yao Police Station for interrogation. Rescue workers transported the body parts to Plang Yao Hospital to proceed with legal procedures, as the case is considered a shocking crime.