KANCHANABURI — A shocking crime case in Kanchanaburi Province unfolds like the plot of a Thai movie – a handsome man becomes involved with a mafia boss’s woman, ultimately leading to his murder. CCTV footage captured the moment when the victim was dragged into a vehicle.
On May 18, Region 7 Provincial Police received a report from locals who discovered the body of 36-year-old Warapong Khunsrichaturoong, known as “DJ Tate” from his profession, while mushroom hunting in the forest. The body was found in Thung Na Nang Rok village area, Lat Ya subdistrict, Muang district, Kanchanaburi province.
Police Lieutenant General Naiwat Padermchit, Commander of Provincial Police Region 7, led officers using four-wheel-drive vehicles to reach the reported location, traveling 20 minutes from the outer road and walking an additional 5 minutes on foot.
They discovered DJ Tate’s body, which had been deceased for no less than 3 days, with two apparent gunshot wounds to the forehead. Officials transported the body to the Forensic Institute for detailed autopsy.
The villager who first discovered the body reported that three days earlier, during rainy weather with dark skies, he became lost and wandered into the area where he spotted the victim’s legs protruding from the forest edge. Frightened, he didn’t approach closer and hurried home without notifying authorities.
Throughout that night, the disturbing image haunted him, prompting him to tell relatives about what he’d seen. His grandmother, who had seen news reports about DJ Tate’s disappearance, suspected it might be him. The villager decided today to return to the location and called Lat Ya Airport Police to investigate.
DJ Tate’s disappearance made headlines on May 15, after security camera footage recorded his abduction in the early morning of May 14. He had just finished work for a female client at a club and was driving to meet a woman named Nittaya. During the drive, he was on the phone with Nittaya, saying that a car was following him. Then there were sounds of him parking his car and [of] DJ Tate being dragged out of his vehicle.
Ms. Premyuda, DJ Tate’s girlfriend, stated that before the incident, she had warned him about his involvement with another woman named Nam, urging him to stay away as she had heard Nam was connected to a drug-dealing mafia figure. DJ Tate had assured her he was no longer involved. She never imagined the situation would escalate to murder.
Wichian, DJ Tate’s father who traveled 12 hours from Kalasin, a northeastern province, to search for his son in Kanchanaburi, expressed some relief at finally finding his son’s body. He plans to perform spiritual ceremonies and transport the body home for religious rites. Regarding the perpetrators, he hopes police will apprehend them, noting the brutality of shooting his son twice in the head.
At 8:00 p.m. on May 18, lawyer Ronarong Kaewphet accompanied DJ Tate’s father to file a complaint at Kanchanaburi City Police Station against the kidnappers on charges of premeditated murder and concealing the cause of death. Wichian thanked officials for their efforts in searching for DJ Tate, despite the tragic outcome.
Initially, authorities have arrested Thanadech, one of the first two suspects brought in for questioning, under a warrant from the Kanchanaburi Provincial Court. It’s expected that on May 19, police will request arrest warrants for at least three more individuals involved in DJ Tate’s kidnapping and murder.
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