Third victim found in suspect’s pond
Cops closing in on identity of victims
Investigators have found the bones of a third victim allegedly killed by Apichai Ongwisit after retrieving a metal casket from a pond near his house in
Bangkok yesterday.
The suspect, in a case dubbed “Ice Metal Casket”, was arrested earlier this month after police found the body of Warinthorn “Kuk-kik” Chaiyachet, 22, from Sakon Nakhon, wrapped in a plastic bag and buried on the man’s property at the end of Soi Phetkasem 47 in Bang Kae district.
Human bones found a while later in a pond near the suspect’s home are thought to belong to a second victim. A further search for additional evidence yesterday led officers to find what they described as “several human bones”, including a skull and hip bones, in a metal casket measuring a metre long.
A dumbbell found near the casket was used to add extra weight to the box to prevent it from surfacing. With the latest finds, “we currently suspect there are at least three victims”, assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen
Piya Uthayo said yesterday.
Forensic experts from Siriraj Hospital confirmed the bones in the casket are human. They also believed the hip bones may belong to a woman aged above 18, Pol Lt Gen Piya said, citing initial examination.
The bones match earlier accounts given by witnesses who claimed a corpse had been placed inside a metal casket.
During yesterday’s search, divers also found pieces of bones and a 10-inch knife in other areas of the pond.
Investigators plan to compare the evidence against reports of missing people to identify the two victims.
So far, more than 300 pieces of bones have been retrieved.
A police source, who asked not to be named, said the other two victims besides Warinthorn might be “Nong Praew”, a 12-year-old girl whose parents filed a missing person complaint around 2011-2012 and a woman named Oy or Orn, a small-built woman aged around 18-20 who was also reported missing at around the same period.
Police have charged Mr Apichai with various counts of wrongdoing, including concealment of Warinthorn’s body, illegal possession of a gun and possession of 2,200 meth pills, city police chief Pol Lt Gen Phukphong Phongpetra said, adding they are also considering adding a rape charge after receiving a fresh complaint against the suspect.
Mr Apichai is being detained at the Thon Buri Remand Prison.
Officers have decided not to drain the pond to help the search because it is connected to another water source. Draining the pond will allow additional water to flow in, Pol Col Jirakrit Jarunpat, chief of city police Women’s and Children’s Welfare Division, said.