The younger sister mourned as she hurried to see "Uncle Boonyoo's" body. She revealed the victim had moved into the area less than a year ago and insisted he never knew the attacker before. She hopes the perpetrator will face consequences for his actions. Meanwhile, the attacker's mother believes her son may have had drug-induced hallucinations.
At 10:10 a.m. on 1 July 2026, police officers and the Khao Saming district administration team found the body of Mr. Boonyoo Somjai, 66, dead in the middle of a rubber plantation in Village No. 3, Thung Non Sri Subdistrict, Khao Saming District, Trat Province. He had been brutally beaten with a wooden stick by Mr. Witthawat, also known as Moss, 32, and was left near two guns the attacker had abandoned.
The body was found lying on its side, with all clothing removed, approximately 1.8 kilometers from the crime scene. Authorities secured the area to prevent anyone involved from entering, awaiting forensic teams to conduct a thorough investigation. Over 50 local residents closely followed the unfolding incident.
Mrs. Ratsamee, 55, the victim's younger sister, who arrived at the scene with her nephew to view Mr. Boonyoo's body, stated that the victim had only lived in the area for less than a year. He had a family and regularly went out for exercise runs. On the day of the incident, he happened to encounter the attacker by chance. The family confirmed that the victim had never met the attacker before. The attacker asked why the victim was looking at him, then initiated a conversation before immediately assaulting him. The family wishes for the attacker to receive justice for his actions.
Later, police inspected the Takard Reservoir area in Village No. 9, Huai Raeng Subdistrict, Mueang District, Trat Province, where the motor tricycle used in the crime was found abandoned, about 5.8 kilometers from where the body was discovered. Upon detailed inspection, they found several blue water containers, which were collected as evidence.
A local resident recounted that during the night, while his nephew was tapping rubber trees, he encountered a suspicious man approaching him, soaked with water. The man claimed his vehicle had run out of fuel and asked for help, saying he had no money or phone. Out of sympathy, the resident gave the man a ride on a motorcycle sidecar to a friend's shop near Kaeng Phrai village, about 6-7 kilometers away.
On the way, the resident passed a location where a village headman’s vehicle was parked at a junction but did not find anything suspicious nor was stopped for inspection. After dropping off the man and returning home, the nephew called to report that a drug-crazed suspect was on the loose. The resident then realized the man he had given a ride to was the suspect police were seeking.
The attacker’s mother revealed she knew Uncle Boonyoo well and admitted her son had issues related to drug use. She believes her son's drug-induced hallucinations led to the shocking crime and expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
Currently, investigators are questioning Mr. Moss, the suspect, to gather crucial evidence, forensic results, and statements from involved parties to prosecute the perpetrator to the full extent of the law.
