Pathum Thani scavengers in fear after slayings

Sathien Sornchai, 48, was found under the Don Muang Tollway in tambon Prachathipat in the province’s Thanyaburi district. 

His body was discovered in the same neighbourhood where the bodies of two other scavengers – Supakorn Khokkran, 25, and Supapan Khongyoodee, 38 – were found on Tuesday. They had suffered multiple stab wounds, were both blindfolded and had their hands tied behind their backs. 

The shirtless Sathien sustained a deep cut to his throat, cuts on his arm and stab wounds to his stomach. His hands were tied behind his back with electrical wire. 

A relative told police that he last saw Sathien at 9pm on Wednesday night. The area where he was found was where he would normally sleep, the relative said.

Pathum Thani police chief Pol Maj-General Thaworn Khaosa-ard said he suspected the same person was responsible for all three deaths because of the manner of the killings.

A police source said Sathien might have been killed because he talked to police about the deaths of the other scavengers. 

Police on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for a scavenger nicknamed Bung, who is in his 20s. He is suspected of killing the couple brutally after an argument during a drinking session on Monday. 

Pratunam Chulalongkorn police investigators said surveillance video showed that a man resembling Bung arrived in the tollway area on his bicycle at 1am on Tuesday and walked into the area where Supakorn’s body was later found.

Deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Krisana Pattanacharoen said officers were hunting for Bung and would try to find any link among the three murders. He also said that if witnesses who had testified earlier felt unsafe they could request police protection.

Many scavengers in the area said they were afraid that this elusive killer might kill again, as they believed he was still in the area. 

A 30-year-old scavenger, Pong, said he used to go scavenging with Sathien and Supakorn. He said he was afraid after learning that police still couldn’t catch the murderer.

He said he did not know what the killer looked like and he might kill other scavengers or those related to the case.