A British youngster who had repeatedly been “bashed in the head” with a blunt weapon was discovered dead in a Thai forest.
Woramet Ben Taota, a dual citizen, went motorcycle riding with his fiancée on Saturday in the province of Lampang, but neither of them came home.
The following morning, in the Ban Than district, police discovered the 16-year-old’s bloody body in a grove.
Officers continue the search for his missing girlfriend, Yam, who is the same age.
Ben, as the victim was known to his friends, was discovered on the ground, next to some bushes.
His head and face were covered in blood after he was reportedly bashed in the head repeatedly with a blunt object, police said.
His smartphone charger and a red wallet with his ID card and bank card were still in his black backpack, but his mobile and cash were missing.
Police believe Ben was robbed and killed in another location before his body was dumped in the forest.
Colonel Sittisak Singtongla, from the Mae Tha Police, said: ‘The investigating team went to the area and found the victim with blood stains all over his face.
‘The face and head were found to have been beaten with a hard object until swelling and bruising was caused.
‘There was also a deep wound in his face. The body has been taken to hospital for an autopsy.
‘We are currently tracking down individuals close to the victim, including his female companion. She is a key figure in this case since she is the last person to see him alive.’
Ben’s mother, Ooy Taota, told police that her son had said goodbye on Saturday evening, telling her he was ‘going to work with friends’ but he did not give any more details.
Colonel Sittisak said the motive of the killing remains unclear, adding that nothing has been riled out at such an early stage of the investigation.