Apichai Ongwisit, 40, alias "Ice Metal Casket" was arrested in January this year for alleged involvement in the killing of 22-year-old Warinthorn Chaiyachet, but police have yet to complete a search of all his property -- a 20-rai compound in Bang Kae district of Bangkok where more than 300 human bone fragments were found.
- Note: This story is part of 'Heinous crimes that shocked us in 2020' series
Police received a tip from a drug suspect, Chaloemchon Ngabua, 41, who told police about Apichai in an attempt to secure a deal for a drug offence. He claimed when he worked as a security guard at Apichai's home, he learned about his ex-employer having killed a woman.
Chaloemchon claimed Apichai hit the woman with a stick and stuffed her inside a metal casket for two days, until she died of suffocation. The victim's body was placed in a large plastic bag and buried in the back garden.
Police showed up at Apichai's property where they found the body of Warinthorn. The discovery of the body prompted police to conduct a forensic search of the grounds of Apichai's property.
On Jan 16, a team of divers retrieved 28 pieces of human ribs and hair from the pond believed to belong to a girl aged between 17 and 18. The next day, police found another 288 pieces of human bones wrapped up and weighed down by heavy dumbbells in the pond. On Jan 23, at least 30 more human bone fragments were discovered, this time in a casket.
Police believed the bones were the remains of at least two other victims. Police charged Apichai with concealment of Warinthorn's body, illegal possession of a gun and possession of 2,200 methamphetamine pills found in his home.
He was sentenced in March this year to 10 years and five months in prison for the illegal possession of narcotics and firearms. He is currently in jail as the other cases await trial.
Apichai is the son of Chaloemchai Ongwisit, who ran the now-defunct Ongwisit market. His father was arrested in 1983 for killing an underage girl in anger after she broke his fish tank.
He concealed the corpse by cutting up her body and scattering the parts in many locations. Chaloemchai was shot dead after his release from prison.
