Woman, 23, Dies After Taking Abortion Drug; Infant Remains Buried
A 23-year-old woman in Rayong Province died after taking abortion medication purchased online; authorities discovered her 6-7 month-old fetus buried behind a construction camp after she expelled it.
At 4 a.m. on August 21, 2026, Pluak Daeng Police Station officers and rescue personnel inspected an area behind a construction worker camp in Pluak Daeng District, Rayong Province, and discovered the remains of a female fetus aged 6–7 months inside a cardboard box used for an electric rice cooker and buried in the ground.
Initial investigation revealed that the 23-year-old woman, who already had one child, became pregnant unexpectedly. She purchased abortion medication online and took it, resulting in the fetus being expelled and dying. Family members then placed the remains in a cardboard box, buried it behind the camp, and lit incense to perform a spirit-appeasing ritual according to their beliefs, intended to prevent the infant's spirit from disturbing the mother.
Rescue workers excavated the infant's body for detailed autopsy examination and collected photographs and evidence from the scene. Police will await the woman's recovery and discharge from the hospital before summoning her for questioning and proceeding with legal charges.
