Unidentified Man Found Dead in Cassava Field Near Pattaya

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

An unidentified man was found dead in a cassava field in Huai Yai, Chonburi province, prompting a police investigation into the cause of death. The body was discovered lying just off the road, with officers confirming there were no visible signs of assault.

Police were alerted at 12.30pm on 19 January 2026 after a report of a body being found in a ditch along Thung Klom–Huai Yai Road, near Wat Phonprapanit (Wat Khao Din) in Moo 5, Huai Yai subdistrict. The notification was received by Pol Lt Col Pracharak Suriya, an investigating officer at Huai Yai Police Station.

After receiving the report, police informed senior officers and attended the scene with an investigation team, forensic officers from Forensic Science Division 2 Chonburi, an on-duty doctor and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya. The area where the body was found lies just off a local road and a cassava plantation.

At the scene, officers found the body of a man of unknown nationality, estimated to be aged between 40 and 45. He was lying on his back in the ditch and was wearing only dark blue underwear. An initial examination found no wounds consistent with an attack, though there were marks on his left shoulder consistent with animal bites.

Authorities estimate the man had been dead for approximately two days, before being discovered. No identification documents were found on the body and police were unable to immediately establish his identity.

Police questioned nearby residents and potential witnesses, but no one was able to identify the deceased or confirm having seen him previously. Residents in the area said they did not recognise the man and had no information about how he came to be in the field.

The body was first discovered by the owner of the cassava field, who had driven to the land to inspect the property. Upon noticing a body lying in the field, the landowner contacted police immediately.

Daily News reported that forensic officers collected evidence from the scene before the body was transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital. Further examinations will be carried out to determine the man’s identity and establish the exact cause of death as part of the ongoing investigation.

Key Takeaways

• An unidentified man aged about 40–45 was found dead in a cassava field in Chonburi.

• Police found no signs of assault, estimating the man died around two days before discovery.

• The body has been sent for forensic examination to determine identity and cause of death.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Dailynews 2026-01-20