The decomposing body of a woman was found on Sunday inside a cupboard floating on a river in Chon Buri.
The woman appeared to be 25-30 years old. A post-mortem indicated she’d been dead for seven days. There were no signs she’d been physically assaulted.
The victim, wearing shorts but no top, was lying inside the cupboard along with a rock that weighed about 20 kilograms.
Samreung Thanuanthad, 63, a factory security guard, noticed the cupboard floating in the river behind Saen Suk Central Stadium and on approach smelled something rotten.
He said the cupboard, securely tied with rope, was filled with worms.
Police believe the body was that of a migrant worker who died of natural causes.
Pol Col Jaruwat Suriyathip, superintendent of Saen Suk police, speculated that her employer might have hidden the body for fear of being charged with employing workers illegally.
He suggested the cupboard might have been dumped in the Gulf, weighted with the rock, and it was carried by the tide into the river.
Police are examining missing-person reports.
The body was sent to forensic specialists in hope of determining her identity and the cause of death.
