21-Year-Old Cassava Thief Kills Farmer in Buriram
A 21-year-old man from Ban Nong Wang in Buriram Province was arrested after he stole cassava roots to fund his drug and gaming habits, then attacked and killed the 57-year-old farm owner who caught him in the act. Police say the suspect admitted to beating the victim with his fists, causing fatal head injuries, before fleeing in his pickup truck. He faces charges of drug use, theft, and causing death.
According to police, the suspect admitted he had previously stolen cassava from the victim's field and sold it for about 200 baht on the morning of October 10, 2026. He returned around 4:00 PM to steal again, but encountered the farm owner. The suspect claimed the victim attacked him first, leading to a struggle in which he struck the man's head multiple times with his fists before fleeing in his pickup truck. He said he used the money from the cassava sales to buy methamphetamine and to pay for mobile internet to play online games, and confirmed he had used meth on the day of the incident. He claimed he did not know the victim had died until he returned home and police arrived, after which he apologized to the family.
After his arrest, police took the suspect to the scene for a reenactment and seized evidence including his pickup truck, the clothing he wore that day, a sack, and a machete used for cutting branches. The victim's eldest daughter, Nitaya, 33, said she had seen the suspect around the village but never spoken to him, and she did not believe his claim that her father initiated the violence, pointing out injuries to the victim's mouth, face, and chest that suggested intent to kill. She thanked police for their swift work. Deputy Superintendent Rungsawat Kangsaranont of Lahansai Police Station said officers traced the cassava to a local buyer, matched the tubers, and followed the trail to the suspect, who confessed fully. He faces charges of drug use, theft, and causing death by bodily harm, and the investigation continues.
