CHIANG MAI — The mysterious body found deep in Doi Suthep National Park, Chiang Mai, which police initially suspected was a foreign tourist, has been identified after the man’s wife contacted authorities. She revealed he traveled from Chonburi province and intentionally walked into the forest with no intention of coming back out.
Although official identification results have not been confirmed, Jitrarporn Kanthi, village headman of Doi Suthep, provided details about how the man was identified. After receiving the report, she posted on social media seeking relatives of the deceased. The post was widely shared, leading a woman to contact her asking about her missing husband who had disappeared from Chonburi province.
When the village headman sent photos of the backpack found in the forest, the woman confirmed it belonged to her husband and contained items she had personally bought for him. The 31-year-old man enjoyed hiking and suffered from chronic asthma. He had been experiencing family problems and his wife had requested a separation. On July 12, he traveled from Chonburi to Bangkok, leaving behind his car, mobile phone, and all personal documents.
According to the Chonburi woman’s account, her husband traveled by train and arrived in Chiang Mai on July 13. Upon arrival, he went to Chiang Mai City Police Station where he borrowed a phone from a volunteer lawyer to call her, telling her to file a missing person report. After that call, she and her family lost all contact with him.
Police revealed that the body appeared to have been dead for more than a week. The deceased was wearing black long pants and a gray long-sleeved shirt. About 10 meters from where the body was found, a black backpack was discovered containing clothing, hiking equipment, shoes, and unopened bottles of drinking water. However, no identification documents or mobile phone were found.
Initial police examination could not determine any signs of injury or cause of death due to the advanced state of decomposition. The forensic medicine department at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital is currently conducting further investigations.
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