KHON KAEN - The dismembered body found in Khao Suan Kwang district on Thursday was a woman who worked in a karaoke bar, was married and also had a special relationship with another woman.
Pol Col Charatpat Suthayasorakhom, deputy Khon Kaen police chief, said investigators identified the victim as Warisara Klinjui, 22, a native of Chai Nat province. She had worked at a karaoke bar in Muang district of Khon Kaen.
Investigators had invited four people close to the dead woman to report for questioning - a "tomboy" and three teenage males, Pol Col Charatpat said.
The discovery of the dismembered body on Thursday made news and social media headlines.
It was found cut into two pieces, stuffed in black plastic bags and then put inside two open plastic containers which were buried in a roadside forest 3 kilometres from a village in Khao Suan Kwang district. Three sheets of galvanised iron had been placed over the grave.
Farmers from Ban Noen Sanga found the gruesome package, attracted to it by the smell, and called police. The deceased woman had two tattoos, on her left chest and back.
The murdered woman's mother, Sairung Klinjui, 42, and relatives arrived in Khon Kaen on Friday to meet police handling the case.
Ar-ngoon Piakaen, 36, said Warisara was her niece, and she was called “Aem’’ by friends. She remembered the tattoos found on the victim's body, and the clothes her niece wore.
She said Warisara was from Chai Nat. Her father died a long time ago. Her niece had worked at a nightspot in Khon Kaen and married to a contractor 3-4 months ago. Warisara’s husband had to work in other provinces, often leaving her at home alone.
“Aem felt lonely staying at home. She told her husband she would go to work at a karaoke shop and her husband allowed it. She then became romantically involved with another woman from Khon Kaen’s Chonnabot district. Her husband was aware of this relationship and paid it no attention. The three people had no family problems and they got along well together,’’ Ms Ar-ngoon said.
The woman friend had phoned Warisara’s mother on May 22, saying she was missing and asked if the mother wanted her to alert police right away.
The mother said to wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report to police. On May 24, the woman reported Warisara missing to Muang police station. Her body was found in Khao Suan Kwang district the following day, the victim's aunt said.
She would be taken home to Chai Nat province for funeral rites after the post-mortem examination was completed.
The deputy Khon Kaen police chief said all possible motives for the murder were being looked into. These included robbery-murder, revenge out of jealousy, debt or some work conflict.
Khao Suan Kwang police chief Pakphum Phitsamai said later on Friday they had questioned 10 people, including the victim’s close friends and family members.
“The victim’s mother told police her daughter seldom talked about her personal affairs to family members, so they did not know much about her. Previously, she had been involved with several tomboy-like women.
"After learning about this, the family asked her to get married to a man. She raised no objection and married Sakchai Batthongdee, 35, a Nong Khai contractor, early this year. After three months of marriage she returned home to Chai Nat and later went to work in Khon Kaen, where she met a woman friend and their relationship developed,’’ Pol Col Pakphum said.
Pol Maj Gen Charoenwit Sriwanit, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 4 said after a meeting with the investigation team on Friday that progress had been made. The prime suspect was identified and the case was about 90% completed.
Clues implicating the suspect were gathered when inspecting apartments and places the victim had visited or stayed at. Investigators were awaiting the forensic results.
Police investigators meet to discuss the case of the woman whose body was found cut in two and buried. (Photo by Jakkarapan Nathanri)