NONTHABURI, THAILAND – A forensic examination confirmed that investigative reporter Nattawut Ponglanka died from a lethal dose of cyanide, transforming an unexplained death into a suspected murder case.
Forensic institute confirms cyanide poisoning
The Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) announced its official findings on Friday, 5 December 2025. Cyanide was detected in Nattawut Ponglanka’s blood and stomach contents.
According to CIFS, the concentration was so high that it must have been fatal, establishing poisoning as the cause of death from a forensic standpoint. The results were immediately forwarded to the police, which began treating the case as a potential homicide.
Family halted cremation after early warnings
The family of the 35-year-old Channel 8 reporter had already intervened on Thursday, stopping the cremation that had been scheduled for 6 December. They reacted to early indications from pathologists that “toxic substances” might be involved and demanded thorough follow-up examinations.
This skepticism was now borne out by the cyanide finding. Mourning ceremonies held on 1 and 2 December in Nonthaburi took on a shocking new significance in light of the confirmation of poisoning.
Criminal police take over high-stakes case
The case now lay fully in the hands of the criminal investigation police, who were working to determine whether it was suicide, an accident or murder. Cyanide, a highly toxic and tightly regulated substance, was described as being almost impossible for private individuals to access by chance.
Investigators were expected to reconstruct the route the poison took: where it came from, who had access to it and what motive might have been behind its use. These questions turned the death into a major criminal and political affair.
Questions over reporter’s investigative work
Nattawut was described as an experienced and award-winning investigative reporter, and his sudden death immediately fueled suspicion that he might have been killed. Observers asked whether he had been on the verge of a major revelation and whether he had powerful enemies.
The Thai media sector was said to be on high alert, viewing the death of a colleague by poisoning as an unprecedented escalation. The search for answers focused heavily on whether his professional activities could have made him a target.
Search for clues in home and digital devices
Police planned to review all of Nattawut’s personal and professional contacts as part of the inquiry. His apartment in Bang Kruai was designated the central crime scene.
Investigators were also expected to examine his mobile phone and laptop for threats or suspicious communications that might shed light on the circumstances of his death. A full CIFS autopsy report, due in about a month, was set to provide further toxicological details.
Death becomes major political and criminal issue
What began as a tragic and unexplained loss had developed into a high-profile investigation with national implications. The case raised stark questions about safety for journalists in Thailand and about possible motives behind the poisoning.
As authorities awaited the complete forensic report and pursued leads, the search for the truth in the death of Nattawut Ponglanka had only just begun.