Teen mum charged over newborn baby’s death

CHAIYAPHUM: A 19-year-old woman has been charged over the death of her newborn baby, whose body was found at a field in Muang district on Friday.

Locals found the decomposed remains of the baby, whom police estimated to have died 3-5 days prior, inside a suitcase that they found in tambon Na Siew. The baby had been strangled with the cord of a mobile phone charger, police said. Police found a shirt bearing the logo of a well-known delivery company, which led them to arrest the suspect in a dormitory in Muang district.

The woman, whose name was withheld, told police she delivered the baby in her room. She killed the baby because she feared her boyfriend of six months, who didn’t know about the pregnancy, would leave her. The suspect has been charged with premeditated murder, police said.