UDON THANI, THAILAND – A 23-year-old man was found dead in a locked apartment in Udon Thani in early January, as police investigated a suspected suicide involving an unregistered handgun and other illegal items.
New Year weekend discovery in locked apartment
On 2 January 2026, at about 11:05 a.m., Pol. Lt. Col. Chakraphong Tomtaem of Muang Udon Thani Police Station received a report of a deceased person in an apartment building in the northeastern province. Officers coordinated with the Udon Thani Sawang Metha Tham Foundation, forensic doctors from Udon Thani Hospital and crime scene specialists, who secured and examined the site. Investigators found the body of a 23-year-old man, identified in documents only as Mr. A, lying face down beside the bed with a gunshot wound to the right temple, and estimated the time of death at around 24 hours before discovery.
Unregistered, modified pistol and no sign of forced entry
At the scene, police recovered a spent cartridge case and two live rounds on the bed, along with a 9 mm pistol. Initial findings indicated the firearm was not registered and had been technically modified so it could fire live ammunition. Bottles of alcohol and water were on a table, and all items, including the weapon and ammunition, were seized as evidence, while officers reported no signs of a break-in and said the door had been locked from the inside.
CCTV shows man staying inside, girlfriend last to leave
The accommodation operator told police that CCTV footage showed Mr. A had not left the room since 30 December 2025. According to the operator, only his girlfriend was seen leaving the room on 31 December 2025, before the body was later discovered. No other individuals were observed entering the apartment during that period on the available footage.
Last New Year’s contact: “I love you”
The girlfriend told officers she had called the 23-year-old at about 3:00 a.m. on New Year’s night. She said they had wished each other a happy new year and exchanged messages saying “I love you,” adding that she had been drunk at the time. She stated that her boyfriend only remarked that she seemed intoxicated and did not mention any problems or give any noticeable indications of distress, explaining that they had been together for more than two years and had lived in the apartment for around four months.
Rescue team called after calls go unanswered
When the man later repeatedly failed to answer his phone and she was unable to open the door, the woman alerted a rescue team. Responders forced entry to the apartment, found the 23-year-old unresponsive and immediately notified the police. Authorities then began securing the room and documenting the condition of the body and evidence.
Family questions origin of gun and possible motive
The victim’s sister told investigators that Mr. A had previously sold noodles with his father near the old Komma intersection. She said he had moved in with his girlfriend after his father died in early January 2025, and that the family did not know where he had obtained the pistol or what might have motivated his actions. According to the family, there were no known explanations for the presence of the illegal firearm.
Police treat case as suspected suicide but keep options open
Investigators initially treated the case as a suspected suicide but stressed that all possibilities remained under consideration. The apartment was sealed off while officers collected fingerprints and DNA samples to determine who had last handled the weapon and other items in the room. Police highlighted that there were no indications of forced entry, no suicide note was found, and the presence of an illegal weapon and other prohibited items required closer examination.
Forensic and data analysis under way
Forensic experts began analysing the pistol to determine whether it had been recently modified and whether it had been used in other incidents. The cartridge case and bullets were subjected to ballistic testing, and the alcohol and water bottles were examined for any potential relevance to the case. In parallel, investigators reviewed the deceased man’s phone as well as his personal and financial records to look for clues to a possible motive, and they interviewed neighbours, relatives and acquaintances while re-checking nearby surveillance cameras to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Ongoing investigation led by senior officer
Police confirmed that no additional witnesses had come forward so far. The case remained under the responsibility of Pol. Lt. Col. Chakraphong Tomtaem, who said the investigation was active and continuing. He indicated that only after all evidence and analyses had been fully evaluated would authorities decide whether the death would be officially classified as a suicide or linked to another offence.