Murdered Woman Found in Suitcase in Pattaya Reservoir
Authorities in Chon Buri province have launched an investigation after the body of a woman was discovered stuffed inside a chained suitcase floating in a reservoir near Pattaya. The disturbing find has raised speculation of possible links to a similar murder in neighbouring Rayong earlier this year.
The suitcase, a large black fabric case branded “King Safari,” was seen floating in the Khlong Bang Phai reservoir in Huai Yai subdistrict on Wednesday morning. The discovery was reported to Huai Yai police at around 6:30am. Rescue workers retrieved the suitcase, which was tightly secured with a metal chain, padlocks, and cable ties. A foul odour confirmed suspicions of its grim contents.
When the suitcase was cut open, officers found the partially clad body of a woman believed to be around 30 years old. She wore only cream-coloured long pants and had extensive tattoos. No identification documents were found, leaving her nationality and identity unknown. Police believe she had been murdered before her body was stuffed into the suitcase and dumped to conceal the crime.
The location of the reservoir presents challenges for investigators. The area is remote, with unpaved roads and no surveillance cameras. Recent heavy rainfall may also have destroyed potential evidence. Despite being a restricted site under naval jurisdiction and used as a training venue for the national rowing team, access is not fully secure. Guards reported unusual activity in the days leading up to the discovery, including lights at night and dogs howling persistently.
The grim discovery was made by Lt. Kasemsit Boriboonwasin, a member of the national rowing team, who spotted the suitcase floating about 80 meters from shore during training. Inside, alongside the victim’s body, police also found nine weight plates ranging from 0.5 to 5 kilograms, apparently used to weigh down the case.
Initial medical examinations suggest the woman died about five days earlier. Bruising was noted on her neck, chest, and nose, and forensic teams recovered partial fingerprints from the weight plates. Her body has been sent to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok for autopsy.
The case bears striking similarities to a murder earlier this year in Rayong’s Ban Chang district, just 14 kilometers away. In that case, another woman’s body was discovered in a suitcase submerged with weight plates. Police are now investigating whether the two crimes are connected.
Authorities have appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with missing relatives matching the description to contact police. The investigation continues as officers seek to identify the victim and track down those responsible for this chilling crime.
