Police have declared the case of a 65-year-old woman who died after jumping into a crocodile pit at Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm a suicide.
As reports of the death spread online, many netizens asked whether reports of the tragedy at the famous reptile farm were true.
Pol Col Preecha Iamnui, chief investigator at Samut Prakan police station, confirmed the incident yesterday, saying it occurred on Friday afternoon.
The victim has been named as Wanpen Inyai from Bangkok's Min Buri district after a healthcare card was found in the crocodile pond next day. Wanpen was reported missing last week.
Her relatives had filed a missing persons report with police at Romklao station on Friday, but police refused to investigate her disappearance until 24 hours had passed.
Wanpen's family was later contacted by Samut Prakan police and asked to identify her body.
The woman took her shoes off before jumping into the pond, witnesses said.
Vendors at the farm, who also witnessed the incident, said Wanpen jumped into the pit.
Staff at the farm attempted to rescue her from the pit, but failed.
The crocodile pit is surrounded by a strong fence and there are security guards at the farm to prevent accidents.
Wanpen's family also believes the death was a suicide and has not filed a complaint with the farm operator.
Although the family is also sure the dead woman was Wanpen, police have sent samples of tissue found in the pond for DNA checks.
Uthen Youngprapakorn, managing director of the crocodile farm, told Jor Sor 100 radio station that Wanpen had most likely intended to commit suicide because she went to the farm on her own.
A similar incident allegedly took place in September 2012, when a man lodged a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division after his wife went missing.
He suspected she jumped into a crocodile pond because she had planned to visit the farm before she disappeared. That case is still a mystery as the crocodile farm has declined to comment.