TRANG — 8 October 2026, Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of a 37-year-old man whose body was found burned inside a pickup truck near Tha Ngio Reservoir in Huai Yot district, police said.
The case began after a pickup truck was found completely burned near Tha Ngio Reservoir in Tha Ngio subdistrict, Huai Yot district. Human remains were later discovered on the front passenger seat.
The deceased was identified as Theerasak, 37, whose surname was withheld. Witnesses had earlier reported seeing a tall, thin man wearing a hat standing near the vehicle.
Less than 24 hours later, police teams from Provincial Police Region 9, led by Pol Col Rathakorn Phakdeewanit, deputy commander of the Provincial Police Region 9 Investigation Division, together with Trang provincial police and Huai Yot police, launched an investigation and arrested two suspects.
The key suspect, identified as Natthawut, 36, also known by the nickname “Ai Na Lai” because of tattoos on his face, was taken to Huai Yot Police Station at around 19:00 on 7 October. Police arrested him at his home and seized clothing allegedly stained with the victim’s blood, a handgun, ammunition, 200 methamphetamine tablets and an undisclosed amount of cash.
During questioning, Natthawut initially confessed to the killing. He told police that he had ordered 4,000 methamphetamine tablets from the victim, divided into two packages of 2,000 tablets each, for 30,000 baht. However, when the drugs were delivered, the victim allegedly brought only 200 tablets, making him angry.
On 4 October at around 14:00, he arranged to meet the victim and got into the victim’s vehicle. He then allegedly pretended that he needed to get out to urinate. When the victim got out as well, Natthawut allegedly struck him on the head with a piece of wood and continued until he was certain the victim had died. He then dragged the body back into the vehicle, telling police that he acted alone.
He then drove the victim’s vehicle and used GPS to search for the nearest reservoir, believing it would be the safest place to dispose of the body. The GPS directed him to Tha Ngio Reservoir, so he drove there intending to dump the body.
He arrived at around 01:00 on 5 October, but the vehicle became stuck in mud and could not be moved. He therefore left the body inside the vehicle.
At around 02:00–03:00, he called a friend known as “Ai Sak” to pick him up from the area. He then checked into a resort and arranged to meet Sak again on the evening of 6 October to return to the vehicle.
He later bought fuel from a shop near a convenience store and allegedly set both the body and the vehicle on fire before fleeing. Sak allegedly brought his daughter with him, but the child did not see the burning because she was asleep at the time.
At around 21:00, another police team brought Phongphisut, also known as “Ai Sak,” who was arrested in Chang Klang district, to Huai Yot Police Station for questioning. When he saw reporters, he immediately covered his face.
Sak initially admitted to police that he had travelled with “Ai Na Lai.” However, when reporters asked whether he had confessed or taken part in the killing, he refused to answer while continuing to cover his face.
Police are preparing to hold a press conference with further details of the case.
