DON TAN, THAILAND – A 53-year-old man was arrested after a 12-year-old girl had been missing for almost a month, with police accusing him of child abduction and unlawful entry.
Missing Mukdahan girl found after weeks
On 7 April 2026, the Mirror Foundation reported new developments in the case of 12-year-old “A” (name changed), who had been missing since 6 March 2026. The girl had disappeared from a house in Don Tan district in the northeastern province of Mukdahan and was later found alive.
According to the foundation, the case concerned a disappearance from a private residence, prompting a weeks-long search. The organisation said the child had now been brought to safety.
Arrest in Don Tan district
The Mirror Foundation stated that officers from Don Tan police station managed to secure the girl. The suspect was arrested in Don Tan district while travelling on a motorcycle.
Police took him into custody for questioning and further investigation. The girl was separated from the man at the time of the operation.
Child placed under state protection
Following the rescue, the 12-year-old was to be placed under the protection and care of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Authorities planned to oversee her welfare as inquiries continued.
The Mirror Foundation thanked the public for sharing the missing-person notice. It added that shared posts about the disappearance would now be deleted automatically.
Suspect claims life in forests and by streams
During interrogation, the man claimed he had taken the girl with him because they supposedly did not want to be separated. He told investigators they had been living in the forest and near streams, entering nearby villages only occasionally to buy food.
He further alleged that the child had been unhappy with her mother and had therefore gone with him. These claims remained subject to police scrutiny.
Detained while buying ice to cool down
Investigators said the arrest took place on the day they found the pair, when the man was stopped during a shopping trip. He told officers he had gone out to buy ice to cool himself in the heat.
The girl was taken into official care immediately after the intervention. Police then moved the suspect to the Don Tan station for formal charging.
Charges: house trespass and abduction of a minor
Police reported that two initial counts had been brought against the man. These related to unlawful entry into a residence without a valid reason and the abduction or removal of a minor under 15 from the custody of a legal guardian.
Mukdahan provincial police chief Major General Pairoj Thaiphutthara stressed that the alleged offence applied regardless of any claimed consent by the child.
“The offence can still apply even if the child is said to have agreed,”
said Pairoj Thaiphutthara, Mukdahan provincial police chief.
Relief at school after weeks of concern
Homeroom teacher Krissana Srilasak said she had been deeply worried about the girl’s safety after the disappearance.
“I was very worried after she went missing about how the child could eat and live, and I could hardly sleep,”
said Krissana Srilasak, homeroom teacher.
She described her reaction when authorities informed her that the girl had been found and the suspect detained.
“When they told me the girl had been found and the man arrested, I felt great relief and went straight to Don Tan police station,”
said Krissana Srilasak, homeroom teacher.
Investigation continues
Police said the investigation was ongoing and that further steps would depend on the results. For now, actions were based on the two initial allegations announced.
Authorities indicated they would continue to build the case while reviewing all statements and evidence. The girl remained under state protection as officials worked through the details of the incident.