UTHAI THANI, Thailand – A 17-year-old student died after being attacked on her way to school, with her motorcycle subsequently hidden.
The tragic incident occurred on the morning of June 12. The student was riding her Honda motorcycle to school when an assailant attacked her along a forested stretch of road in the Sawang Arom district. The perpetrator was described as a stout man wearing a khaki short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and a red beret.
Authorities later discovered the motorcycle hidden about 500 meters from the victim’s father’s home, dragged into the roadside undergrowth. At the scene, investigators found bloodstains, a pair of glasses, sandals, and a mobile phone, all of which were secured as evidence.
Father Saw Attacker Flee
Just after 6:30 AM, the 12th-grade student was on her way to school when the attack took place. The father, who witnessed the event from a distance, immediately ran towards the scene. He saw a powerfully built man sprint from the undergrowth, followed by his severely injured daughter.
Motorcycle Hidden in Thicket
Investigators found the motorcycle, with license plate 1 ก ฉ 1230 Uthai Thani, not on the road. The perpetrator had dragged it into the bushes about 500 meters from the father’s house and left it there. The police collected bloodstains, a pair of glasses, sandals, and a mobile phone as evidence from the crime scene.
DNA Traces on Mobile Phone
The recovered mobile phone is now with the forensics unit. Police Lieutenant Colonel Songjak Praphatsorn, deputy head of the Sawang Arom Police Station, confirmed that fingerprint and DNA analysis is being conducted on the device. It remains unclear who the phone belongs to, though friends of the victim stated she possessed two to three phones herself.
Hunt Underway via LINE Groups
The police are now systematically disseminating the unusual description of the attacker. All village headmen have been alerted through LINE groups used by the administration. “The locals know the roads at the crime scene well,” explained Songjak. They are instructed to keep a close watch for a suspect dressed like a scout.
Desperate Fight for Survival
Following the assault, the father transported his daughter to the Bo Yang health center. Housekeeper Mali recalled the girl was conscious and repeatedly asked for water. The health center alerted the ambulance service for a transfer to Sawang Arom Hospital. The 17-year-old tragically died en route to the hospital before reaching the clinic.
Police Reconstruct the Assault
Police Major General Worawat Mali, acting commander of the Uthai Thani Provincial Police, convened an investigation team meeting that afternoon. Subsequently, he walked the entire crime scene with his officers to reconstruct the events and the attacker’s escape route. The search of the surrounding forested area is ongoing.
Memorial Service and Support
In the evening, the police commander visited Nong Si Liam Temple, where the family held a wake. The victim’s body was previously transferred to the forensic department of Sawan Pracharak Hospital in Nakhon Sawan for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Officials from the Ministry of Social Development also arrived at the temple to offer assistance to the grieving family. The police are urging residents to report any suspicious observations to the Sawang Arom station around the clock.