Police are hunting for the owner of a Nonthaburi townhouse where the decomposing body of a 28-year-old man was discovered earlier this week, as an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death continues.
Police from the Bang Bua Thong station, accompanied by forensic specialists and rescue workers, responded to reports of a body at a residence in Bang Rak Phatthana subdistrict at 9pm on Thursday.
The victim was found lying on his back on a stairway landing inside the two-storey townhouse. His body was in an advanced state of decomposition, with dried blood pooled on the floor nearby.
Police also found a fanny pack containing syringes, believed to be drug paraphernalia, according to local media reports. Investigators believe the man had been dead for at least one week.
CCTV footage obtained from a neighbouring property showed the homeowner leaving the residence alone at 6.19am on Tuesday. He was seen wearing a grey jacket, jeans and a full-face motorcycle helmet before pushing a red motorcycle out of the property and riding away. He has not been seen since.
The victim’s mother, who lives in Chiang Mai, told reporters that she had last talked with her son on May 26. She said that as far as she knows, her son had met the owner of the house through a dating app.
The woman said that when she woke up on the morning of May 27, she saw seven missed calls from her son on her phone. She tried to contact him again but was unable to reach him. She then filed a police report.
A neighbour who first raised concerns said a foul odour had been emanating from the house for about a week.
On the evening the body was discovered, he climbed over the rear wall of the property to investigate but initially found nothing apart from the smell. After shining a torch into the house, he noticed bloodstains near the staircase and alerted authorities.
The neighbour said the owner of the townhouse appeared to live alone, and they had spoken occasionally. He also claimed to have seen different male visitors regularly coming to the house.
The village head of Moo 6 in Bang Rak Phatthana said the property had previously been linked to a case in which a man had been held against his will inside the house.
She said local authorities had assisted in rescuing the man after he was reportedly confined for three days without adequate food.
According to the village head, unfamiliar visitors had been seen frequently at the residence over the years. She speculated that the deceased may have been lured to the property before his death, although no evidence has yet been presented to support that claim.
Police are examining evidence from the scene and conducting further inquiries to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the death. No arrests have been reported.
