The body of a red-haired young woman with extensive tattoos on her back was discovered in a rubbish bin in Klaeng district of Rayong on Thursday morning after a refuse bag burst open inside a garbage truck’s compactor.
Police, forensic officers, a doctor and rescue workers were dispatched to a road at Village Moo 8 in tambon Kasae Bon after being alerted at about 6am, said Pol Capt Chaithawat Rodma, deputy investigation chief at the Klaeng police station.
A garbage truck belonging to the Krasae Bon tambon administration organisation was found parked by the roadside when police arrived at the scene. Boonsueb Kaeokla, the kamnan (subdistrict headman), assisted authorities at the site.
In the pile of refuse, officers discovered the body of a woman believed to be about 20 years old. She had long red hair, fair skin and a slim build, with extensive tattoos covering her back, said police.
Forensic officers who examined the tattoos said they had not yet been fully coloured, and it was still unclear what the design depicted.
The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, with maggots and flies covering the remains and a strong foul odour. Authorities estimated that she had been dead for at least four to five days.
Sanya Ruamket, 52, a sanitation worker, told police that he and driver Phuwanat Phongsai had begun their routine collection round at about 5am.
While collecting waste, they came across a rubbish bin emitting an unusually putrid smell. The bin was surrounded by flies and contained large numbers of maggots. The workers emptied its contents into the truck for compaction.
As the compactor was operating, one of the refuse bags burst open, revealing what appeared to be a human body. Upon closer inspection, the workers realised it was the corpse of a woman and immediately alerted police.
Initial examinations found no identification documents or evidence revealing the victim’s identity. Due to the advanced decomposition, identification has proved difficult, and authorities have yet to determine whether the deceased was Thai or a foreign migrant worker.
Police have not ruled out any possibilities, including natural causes, an accident or homicide followed by the disposal of the body to conceal a crime.
A team of investigators has been ordered to review CCTV footage from routes leading into and out of the area and check missing persons reports and records of migrant workers in the vicinity.
The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death and confirm the victim’s identity as investigators continue efforts to unravel the mystery.
