MUKDAHAN: A missing 3-year-old girl was found dead and unclothed in a forest four days after she disappeared from her home in Dong Luang district, police said.
The body of Orawan “Nong Chompoo’’ Wongsricha was found by searchers in Phu Phan Noi forest, part of Phu Pha Yon National Park, around 7pm on Thursday.
Teams, led by Dong Luang district chief Chatchawal Thongchon and Pol Col Suriya Nopkreekamhaeng, chief inspector of Kok Tum police station, went into the forest after a woman reported seeing a pair of green slippers in the area while collecting wild mushrooms.
They found the body of the missing girl in bushes about five metres from the slippers. Her clothes were found only a few metres away.
Police said she appeared to have been strangled and to have been dead at least eight hours before being found. An autopsy would determine the cause of death and whether she had been sexually molested.
Forensic officials collected evidence at the scene for DNA testing and other clues pointing to her killer.
The girl's slippers were noticed by Tun Promngoi, 58, of tambon Tao Ngoi in adjoining Sakhon Nakhon province. She and her husband earn their living collecting mushrooms and other wild products.
On Thursday, she went to Phu Phan forest, Ms Tun told police.
She saw a pair green slippers left in the forest and thought a child had dropped them, but was surprised a child would have ventured so far into the forest. At the time, she did not know Nong Chompoo was missing and did not see her body as she continued collecting mushrooms.
Ms Tun said when she returned home she told other members of the family about seeing the slippers and only afterwards learned about the missing girl. She quickly informed the girl's relatives.
Teams of police, soldiers and national park officials were sent to search the area.