Police in Thailand are investigating a chilling murder after the body of an unidentified woman was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase weighted with dumbbells and dumped in a reservoir in Chon Buri province. Authorities believe the killing may be linked to a Chinese gang, as evidence increasingly points to foreign suspects.
The grim discovery was made on September 3. Forensic experts determined that the woman, believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, had been dead for at least five days before her body was found. Her nationality has yet to be confirmed, and investigators are working to match her identity through DNA testing and missing persons reports.
One of the central pieces of evidence is a bronze-grey Toyota SUV, traced to a rental company in Pattaya. The vehicle was allegedly used to purchase dumbbells from a shopping centre in Bang Lamung district—the same type later recovered from the reservoir. On September 6, Police Lieutenant Colonel Nitipoom Batrwong and a forensic team conducted a detailed examination of the SUV. They collected fingerprints, DNA samples, and inspected the car’s condition, noting signs of damage.
The SUV’s front left skirt was cracked, with scrape marks consistent with rocks, and soil residue was visible on several parts of the vehicle. Investigators suspect the car may have been driven into remote or rough terrain during the disposal of the suitcase. Seven DNA samples, including those of the rental company’s owner and employees, have been collected to rule out contamination and narrow down potential suspects.
The owner of the rental company provided police with crucial testimony. Records show the car was rented for a month, from August 10 to September 10, by two Chinese men who collected the vehicle at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan. One of the men was reportedly a repeat customer.
In a suspicious twist, the SUV was returned earlier than expected on August 30 at 6:30 p.m. Instead of two men, it was handed back by one Chinese man accompanied by two Thai women. Staff noticed the car had been thoroughly cleaned, almost unnaturally spotless, which raised suspicions. Despite the cleaning, damage to the front skirt remained visible. The renter settled the repair cost of more than 2,000 baht (US$62) before leaving, claiming he had to urgently fly back to China.
Employees who initially handed over the vehicle to the Chinese renters on August 10 stated that nothing unusual was noticed at the time. However, with the discovery of the suitcase body and evidence linking the SUV to the crime, police are now considering this transaction highly significant.
The investigation is ongoing, with car rental documents and photographs providing critical leads. Authorities have not yet announced arrests or confirmed the motive behind the killing. Nonetheless, evidence strongly suggests the involvement of a group of Chinese nationals.
For now, the identity of the victim remains a mystery, and the reasons behind her brutal murder and concealment continue to puzzle investigators. Police have pledged to intensify efforts to uncover the truth behind this gruesome case, which has shocked the Chon Buri community and drawn attention to the region’s growing entanglement with international crime networks.
