KHON KAEN: Police say they are looking for a couple for allegedly murdering a tattooed woman, 22, whose body was found in a stream in Muang district on Wednesday's evening.
Pol Col Pakpoom Pisamai, chief of the Muang Khon Kaen station, said on Thursday that police would seek warrants for the arrest of the couple in relation to the death of Patya Puangsook, a resident of Ban Kud Kwang village in tambon Kud Namsai of Nam Phong district.
The suspects are Thongchai Klangmuang and Ms Thampassorn Phuttharaksa
Pol Col Pakpoom Pisamai said the investigation showed the couple were involved in the murder of Ms Patya. Police investigators were gathering evidence to seek warrants for the arrest of the pair.
The decomposing body was found in the Huai Phra stream in tambon Phra Lab of Muang district at 5.30pm on Wednesday. There was a gunshot wound to the forehead and the skull was dented. There were also many bruises on the body.
Patya Puangsook's picture (Photo supplied by Chakrapan Natanri)
Police identified the body from its coloured tattoos on the forearms which were identical to those on the pictures of Patya on her Facebook account Oey Oey. Police assumed the woman was killed four days ago, possibly a crime of passion or due to a personal conflict.
"We have identified the suspects. Please give police two more days to work on the case," Pol Col Pakpoom said. He declined to name a suspect.
The victim's relative, Lalintip Kaeopring, 20, said Patya had two children and had lived with her husband in Ban Khambong village of tambon Sa-ard in Nam Phong district. She broke up with him five months ago and then got a job in Muang district.
On April 15, relatives saw her quarrelling with her new boyfriend, Tam, at her condominium in Muang district. He pointed a gun at her head but her relatives managed to separate them, Ms Lalintip said.
Ms Lalintip said she had a missed called from Patya on Sunday but no one answered when she called back.