PATTAYA, THAILAND – The body of an unidentified man was found in a roadside drainage ditch near a temple in the Huai Yai subdistrict, prompting a broad police investigation into his identity and cause of death.
Body discovered near temple and cassava field
The body was discovered around midday on 19 January 2026 in a drainage canal along the Thung Klom–Huai Yai Road near the Wat Phrom Phra Pha Nimit temple in village Moo 5. The area was largely rural, with fields and only a few houses. The deceased was found by the owner of a cassava field, who had gone to check his land and noticed the body in the ditch between the local road and the plantation, then immediately alerted the police.
Police response and initial forensic work
After the report was received at about 12:30 p.m., Pol. Lt. Col. Pracharak Suriya, an investigator at Huai Yai Police Station, went to the scene with a team of criminal investigators. They were supported by specialists from the Region 2 Forensic Science Office in Chonburi, an on‑duty doctor, and rescue volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in Pattaya. Officers secured the area and documented the position of the body in the drainage channel.
“We comprehensively recorded the scene both photographically and forensically and secured all available traces,”
said Pracharak Suriya, police investigator.
Description of the deceased and early medical findings
According to the initial examination, the deceased was a dark‑skinned man of unknown nationality, estimated to be between 40 and 45 years old. He was lying on his back and wore only dark blue underwear. The first medical assessment found no visible external injuries from violence or assault, but bite marks were noted on the left shoulder, which officers believed were caused by scavengers or other animals.
“There are currently no external indications that clearly point to a specific cause of death,”
said investigative sources, according to police.
No documents and no local recognition
Neither at the scene nor in the surrounding area were any identity papers or personal belongings recovered. Local residents and passing motorists did not recognize the man. Police reported that no one from the immediate vicinity stated they had seen him before and that there were no clues to his place of residence or origin, so investigators were now working through missing‑person reports and potential witnesses to establish his identity.
Autopsy ordered as all scenarios examined
The body was transferred to the Police General Hospital for a full autopsy to determine the precise cause of death. The doctor at the scene estimated the time of death at about two days, roughly 48 hours before the discovery. Police stated they were examining all possibilities, including natural causes, an accident, or death caused by another party.
“Given the circumstances of the discovery, we cannot rule out any scenario until we have the forensic results,”
said Pol. Lt. Col. Pracharak Suriya, adding that the investigation would continue and further information was expected after completion of the forensic examination.