23-12-2024 (BANGKOK) A 71-year-old foreign national was found to have been sharing a guesthouse room with his deceased partner’s decomposing body for more than three days, claiming he was unaware of her death.
The grim discovery was made yesterday morning at a five-storey guesthouse on Jomtien Beach Road when the property manager, Mr Prayun, 57, investigated a foul odour emanating from a fifth-floor room. Upon entering with a spare key, he discovered the body of Ms Duangta Khampongsom, 45, from Sisaket province.
The deceased was found partially clothed, wearing only denim shorts, with her body showing significant signs of decomposition. Local law enforcement, accompanied by forensic specialists and medical personnel from Banglamung Hospital, promptly attended the scene.
The room’s occupant, identified only as Mr E due to ongoing investigations, was later located at nearby Jomtien Beach. Sources close to the investigation have provided conflicting reports about his nationality, suggesting possible Irish or Icelandic origins, or both.
During questioning, Mr E offered a perplexing account of events, stating he had invited Ms Khampongsom, a bar worker, to his room on 18 December. According to his statement, she had complained of being unwell following an alleged assault. He claimed their last interaction was on 19 December, after which he assumed she was merely resting.
Perhaps most remarkably, Mr E maintained he had failed to notice both her death and the accompanying decomposition odour, despite sharing the confined space for several days. CCTV footage from the morning of the discovery shows Mr E behaving normally, briefly leaving and re-entering the room without any apparent distress.
Detective Chief Inspector Somchai (name changed) expressed scepticism about Mr E’s account: “It seems highly improbable that someone could remain unaware of such circumstances in such close quarters for such an extended period.”
Initial post-mortem examinations at Banglamung Hospital have proved inconclusive, though they confirmed the time of death as at least three days prior to discovery. The deceased has been transferred to the Police General Hospital’s forensic institute for more detailed examination.
Mr E remains in custody while investigations continue. Forensic teams are conducting thorough examinations of the scene, collecting DNA samples and fingerprints. Police have stated they are keeping all lines of inquiry open.
