Uncle Chan Missing for 7 Days; Residents Report Foul Odor for Days Before Body Found by Roadside
A homeless man known locally as Uncle Chan was found dead in tall grass beside a highway in Ayutthaya after residents reported a foul odor for several days; he had been missing for nearly a week.
On May 17, 2025, police led by Pol. Col. Sarayut Saengthong, superintendent of Nakhon Luang Police Station, along with investigators and forensic officers, examined the body of a deceased man found in tall grass beside Highway 3063 between Bo Phong and Kok Mali intersection near a fertilizer plant in Khlong Sakhaek Subdistrict, Nakhon Luang District, Ayutthaya Province. The body was discovered in tall grass next to an irrigation canal, estimated to have been deceased for 3-4 days and emitting a strong odor throughout the area. Near the body, officers found a woman's fabric shoulder bag, a Buddhist amulet case, and an electrical plug set, which were collected as evidence.
Residents in the area had detected a foul smell for several days but could not locate its source. The smell intensified the following morning after wind and rain, prompting a local resident named Saeksak, 48, to investigate. He ventured into the tall grass and discovered the body, immediately alerting authorities.
The deceased was identified as Chan (surname withheld), 66 years old, known locally as Uncle Chan. He had been registered in the Nakhon Luang area for several years and worked as a day laborer. Local shop owner Voranuch, 59, revealed that Uncle Chan was known to residents, formerly drank alcohol but had quit, and regularly spent time chatting with locals. Residents often provided him food and drinks as he was elderly and homeless, typically sleeping at bus shelters.
Voranuch stated that Uncle Chan had been missing for almost seven days. When residents heard a body was found near the shop, less than one kilometer away, they confirmed it was Uncle Chan. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from nearby routes and interviewing residents and relatives to establish a timeline before his disappearance. No cause has been ruled out, including natural illness, accident, or foul play. Final determination awaits a detailed autopsy report from the forensic pathologist.
