An Icelandic man was discovered staying in a guesthouse in Pattaya with the decomposing body of his partner for more than three days, claiming he was unaware of her death.
Pattaya police responded to a report of a woman’s body in an advanced state of decomposition in a fifth-floor room at a guesthouse on Jomtien Beach Road, Soi Somprasong Plaza. Officers arrived at the scene alongside forensic experts, a physician from Banglamung Hospital, and rescue workers.
The incident occurred in a five-story building offering daily and monthly room rentals. In the room, authorities found the body of Ms. Duangta Khampongsom, a 45-year-old Thai woman from Sisaket province. She was lying on the bed, topless, and wearing denim shorts. Her body showed signs of having been deceased for at least three days, with visible decomposition and a strong odor. No evidence of a struggle or theft was found in the room.
Mr. Prayun, the 57-year-old guesthouse manager, reported detecting a foul smell emanating from the room. After receiving no response to his knocks, he used a spare key to enter and discovered the body. The room had been rented by a 71-year-old Icelandic man identified only as Mr. E. However, he was not present at the time of the discovery. Police later found him near Jomtien Beach, close to the guesthouse.
Reports from rescue workers and police have conflicted about Mr. E’s nationality, with claims that he might be Icelandic, Irish, or of mixed heritage. Upon being questioned, Mr. E appeared disoriented and provided an inconsistent account. He claimed Ms. Duangta was a bar worker he invited to his room on December 18th. According to him, she mentioned being assaulted and feeling unwell before spending most of her time sleeping.
Mr. E stated that his last interaction with her was on December 19th and that he assumed she had been resting in bed since then. He denied harming her and claimed he did not realize she had died, nor did he notice the smell of decomposition. Police, however, expressed skepticism about his account, given the confined space of the room and the extent of the body’s decay.
An initial autopsy at Banglamung Hospital could not determine the cause of Ms. Duangta’s death but confirmed she had been deceased for over three days. Her body was sent to the Police General Hospital’s forensic institute for further examination.
Mr. E was taken to a local police station for questioning and DNA sampling. Forensic officers are continuing their investigation, collecting fingerprints and examining the scene. Police have not ruled out any possibilities and are reviewing the case further.
CCTV footage from the guesthouse captured Mr. E at 9:58 AM on December 22nd, appearing calm and behaving normally. He was seen stepping briefly out of the room before re-entering, showing no signs of distress or concern. The investigation remains ongoing.
credit TPN
