Burned Body Found in Grassland in Kamphaeng Phet

A burned body reduced to almost a skeleton has been discovered in overgrown grassland in Sai Thong Watthana district, Kamphaeng Phet province, with police investigating the possibility of a homicide concealed by fire. The remains were found at around 10:00 a.m. on 4 April 2016 after firefighters extinguished a blaze in dense vegetation near a temple and a kindergarten. Authorities have yet to confirm the identity of the deceased and are awaiting forensic results.

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Police Lieutenant Damrong Subinmit, deputy investigator at Sai Thong Watthana Police Station, attended the scene alongside rescue workers after receiving reports of the discovery. The body was located in a ditch beneath a forested area beside Kaew Sri Wilai Temple and Sai Thong Kindergarten School in Moo 10, Thung Sai subdistrict. Firefighters had been tackling a grass fire that initially broke out on the evening of 3 April and reignited the following day.

Mr Wallop Boonkerd, 48, an administrative staff member at the kindergarten and the first person to find the remains, said the area had been burning intermittently. After calling the municipal fire department to control the flames, he discovered the skeletal remains and alerted police and village leaders. At the time, there was no immediate information about missing persons in the village.

Monks at the nearby temple reported that a man Pichai Maniprai, also called Num, aged 51, had been staying there temporarily but had disappeared earlier. He had left behind clothing and personal belongings at the monk’s quarters. Although monks could not confirm the identity of the remains, they noted his unexplained absence.

Relatives of the missing man, including his aunt Mrs Thitima Mahakaraket, 59, arrived at the scene and expressed confidence that the remains belong to Pichai. She stated he had been missing for nearly two weeks and had last contacted family members to request tobacco and alcohol be brought to the temple. She also said he had a history of alcohol use and epilepsy.

Police have not ruled out any possibilities and emphasised that identification must be confirmed through forensic comparison with relatives. Officers noted that if the death occurred at the site, someone nearby might have detected a foul odour due to the proximity of the temple and school. Investigators are working to determine whether the fire was used to conceal a crime.

ThaiRath reported that the remains have been sent to Sawanpracharak Hospital in Nakhon Sawan province for forensic examination to establish identity and cause of death. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and interview local residents as the investigation progresses.

Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath

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Adapted by ASEAN Now ThaiRath 5 Apr 2026

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