Investigators are bogged down in ascertaining the precise time and place of death for young product presenter Lunlabelle, as this will determine which police station has juridiction in the case.
It will also help them identify any suspects.
Doctors who autopsied Thitima "Lunlabelle" Noraphanpiphat concluded she died between 3pm and 7pm on Sept 16, a timespan which could involve more than one person and different locations. The time and place of death will also determine which police station has jurisdiction in the case.
The estimated time of her death was released on Tuesday by Pol Maj Gen Samrit Tongtao, who commands Metropolitan Police Division 8 and is overseeing the case.
Lunlabelle was working, serving drinks at a party whose attendees included Rachadech "Nam Oun" Wongthabutr, in Bang Bua Thong district in Nonthaburi on Monday afternoon of last week. She was found dead by a security guard, lying on a sofa in the lobby of the condominium where Nam Oun lives in the early hours of the following day.
If the 25-year-old died between 3pm and 5pm, Bang Bua Thong police will be responsible for the case. After 6pm and it will be in the jurisdiction of Bukkalo police station. If she died in between the two periods, the area of police responsibility will depend on the route Mr Rachadech took driving her to his condo.
"We have to find out the exact time when she died," Pol Maj Gen Samrit said. The specific time will point to the police station where the process to request arrest warrants from the court will start, he added.
So far police know only that Lunlabelle died of extreme alcohol poisoning, but how she came to drink so much and when and where remains elusive.
Her parents have said they will not cremate her until police arrest those responsible for her death.
Investigators interrogated Nam Oun again on Monday and Pol Maj Gen Nitinun Phetborom, who is the deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau chief, told reporters at the same briefing on Tuesday that the man stood by his statement he was not aware that Lunlabelle was dead when he placed her on the lobby sofa early on the morning after the party.
Mr Rachadech's urine was tested for drug use and came up negative, he added.
Police also examined the smartwatch worn by Thitima. Pol Maj Gen Samrit said they were still waiting confirmation from doctors and experts on the reliability of the data recorded by the watch.