BURI RAM: The burning body of a slain man was discovered in the grounds of a school near his house in Prakhon Chai district on Monday night, police said.
Banyat Wonma, a caretaker at Ban Salaeng Thon School in tambon Salaeng Thon, told police that when he arrived at the school about 8.30pm to begin his night shift he noticed a smell like something burning. It was coming from behind the school.
He went to take a look and found a dead man there, his body still covered in flames. He called out to alert the neighbours and then informed the police.
Pol Col Jessarit Paengsrisan, the Prakhon Chai police chief, and a doctor from Prakhon Chai Hospital led a team to the school to investigate.
The dead man was lying face down. He had been hit on the forehead with a hard object, which left a big wound. The T-shirt and trousers he was wearing were almost completely burned off, and there were burns on parts of the body.
Near the body were some oil sludge, a pair of shoes, a lighter and a strap bag containing a wallet with 280 baht cash, a mobile phone and two packets of cigarettes.
The body was later identified to be Thanatat Chankae, 21, whose house is about 500 metres from the school.
Yupaporn Kesaro, 22, Thanatat's wife, said she and her husband arrived home after returning from Germany on Sunday night.
On Monday, a party was held to celebrate her birthday, attended by about 10 relatives, starting about 5pm. Shortly after 6pm she noticed her husband was not in the house. She went to a grocery near the house and asked to see the security camera recording. It showed Thanatat walking past the shop at 6.55pm and disappearing into the darkness.
Police said it was likely Thanatat was murdered and his body set on fire to cover up the crime.
The police investigation was continuing.
