Som Tam Vendor Discovers Body as She Goes to Relieve Herself

Picture courtesy of SiamChon.

In a chilling turn of events, the body of 42-year-old Bua Son, a man from Ubon Ratchathani, was discovered in a remote patch of forest near an old market in Soi Thung Klom Tan Mun 10, Nong Prue, Chonburi. The discovery was made around 15:05, on 3 April, after a passer-by stumbled upon the decomposing body in a dense thicket.

The body was found near a makeshift shelter made of tarpaulin, where the man had been living and working as a caretaker for a nearby excavator. The area is a remote, overgrown spot with a dirt mound and heavy vegetation. It is suspected that the man had been dead for at least 24 hours, based on the condition of the body. No signs of physical violence were found, leading authorities to believe it could be a natural death.

A 55-year-old local woman, identified as Khwan, who sells som tam near the site, recalled seeing the man frequently, as he was often around the area guarding machinery. She explained that she was the one who found the body after walking into the forest to relieve herself. “I noticed the foul smell and then, to my horror, saw his lifeless body,” Khwan said, describing the shock of the discovery. “I immediately ran out and called the police.”

Locals revealed that the deceased had been missing for two days before being discovered. His employer had been searching for him but had no luck. The last time anyone saw him was when he had been helping his employer collect grass near the very spot where his body was found. Locals speculated that the man had health issues, as he was known to drink heavily, consuming alcohol in place of water.

Police secured the scene and conducted an investigation. Lieutenant Colonel Natbadin Thong-in, Deputy Investigation Officer from Nong Prue Police Station, ordered a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death. The body has been sent to the Police General Hospital’s Forensic Institute for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

As authorities continue their investigation.

-- 2025-04-04