Man Found Dead in Rice Field With Head Injuries
A man with severe head injuries was found dead in a rice field in Phayao Province on July 20, with police investigating whether the death was a homicide.
At 3:00 p.m. on July 20, 2026, Deputy Superintendent Piyaporn Potthiyong of Mae Ka Police Station in Phayao received a report of a deceased man found in a rice field in the Champahwai area, Tampol Champahwai, Muang District, Phayao Province. He immediately proceeded to the scene with a forensic pathologist from Phayao Hospital, provincial evidence specialists, Mae Ka Police investigators, and local rescue personnel.
The body was found lying face-up in the middle of a rice field, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and white Converse sneakers. The corpse was bloated, and the face and torso had been severely decomposed by maggots, making facial identification impossible. Items found in the shirt pocket included cigarette packages, methamphetamine pills, and a lighter. The right hand bore a spider tattoo, while the right shoulder was tattooed with the word "Father" and the left shoulder with "Mother." Medical examination revealed what appeared to be blunt-force injuries to the head at four points, with death estimated to have occurred at least three days prior.
According to the village headman, the deceased is believed to be a 55-year-old man named Lah from Tambon Champahwai, who was a habitual drinker and had been missing from home for approximately three days without any missing person report filed by relatives. The match is considered highly probable but awaits official identification confirmation.
Police from Mae Ka Station are currently gathering evidence, conducting investigations, and awaiting detailed autopsy results to determine whether the death was caused by homicide or other factors before proceeding with legal action.
