Skeleton identified as missing maid
Probe looks at ‘threats against victim’s mum’
Results of a forensic test showed DNA recovered from a skeleton left buried in Phetchaburi for five years matches that of a 16-year-old maid who is believed to have been murdered by her employer, officials at the police’s Institute of Forensic Science (IFS) revealed yesterday.
The test confirmed that the skeleton belonged to Jariya “Nong Nam” Srisak, the murdered maid, said Pol Lt Gen Dr Withoon Nitiwarangkura, chief medical officer at the Police General Hospital which operates the IFS.
The skeleton was found buried at the home of the mother of Krisana Suwanphithak, 45, who was detained earlier this week over the murder of Jariya. The arrest came after the murdered maid’s mother, Janthira Srisak, 48, told the Central Investigation Bureau that she had received a tip-off that her daughter was killed and the body was buried there.
She travelled from Phetchaburi to Bangkok to seek help from the Pavena Foundation after she had been told by an unidentified witness last month that her missing daughter had been beaten to death and her body hidden five years ago.
The foundation helped her lodge a complaint with CIB chief Thitiraj Nhongharnpitak who promptly ordered a probe into the case. The police raided the Phetchaburi house of Krisana’s mother and found the skeleton, which was taken to the IFS in Bangkok for examination.
“I’m glad [to eventually know the truth] today after having waited for five years. I believed it was my daughter since the day I saw the skeleton. It’s a relief to know the DNA result was positive,” said Ms Janthira in tears, adding that she will take the skeleton back home to Phetchaburi for a proper Buddhist-style funeral.
Despite recent threats made against her by an unidentified telephone caller to a relative of hers, she said she was confident that the police are capable of tracking down the culprit and ensure her safety.
Ms Janthira earlier reported the threats from a man, which came after Ms Krisana, the prime suspect in the murder case, was released on bail.
Pol Gen Wirachai Songmetta, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said the police were already in the process of investigating the threats.
If it is found the caller is linked to Ms Krisana, her bail will then be terminated for violating the bail conditions, said Pol Gen Wirachai.
As for the ongoing investigation into the murder of the teenage maid, there are still more witnesses to question, he said.
Ms Krisana, a former beauty pageant contestant, previously admitted all charges, including injuring the victim and causing death, according to police.
However, the suspect has now retracted her confession, blaming her close friend, identified only as Pratthana, for the killing.
Protesting her innocence, Ms Pratthana has told police she did not beat or assault Ms Krisana’s maid, Jariya.
On the contrary, Ms Pratthana said she was also a victim of Ms Krisana, as she too had been beaten by her, said a source.
Ms Pratthana, 32, had lived at Ms Krisana’s house since she was 19, and worked as her personal assistant.
She claimed Ms Krisana used an aerosol can to beat her the same way she did Jariya, but luckily the injuries were not as severe, the source said.