PATTAYA, Thailand – Police are investigating the mysterious death of a 46-year-old body paint artist whose body was discovered on Jomtien Beach early Monday morning, July 6, after CCTV footage revealed a mystery man remained nearby as the victim struggled before later riding away on what friends claim was the victim’s motorcycle. Police were called to the beach near Jomtien Soi 10 at around 8 a.m. on July 6 after a passer-by discovered the man lying unresponsive on the sand. Officers from Pattaya City Police, forensic specialists and rescue volunteers found the deceased, identified only as Mr. Aod, lying on his back shirtless and wearing only black jeans. A broken Buddhist amulet necklace was found beside his right hand, along with his mobile phone. His sandals and a red T-shirt believed to belong to him were located several metres away and collected as evidence.
Mr. Noi, a taxi driver who knew the victim said he was originally from Sisaket province and worked as a body paint artist in Pattaya. He learned of the death only after someone exercising on the beach spotted the body and alerted police. One of the victim’s closest friends told investigators that he had visited Mr. Aod the previous day. During their conversation, the victim reportedly confided that he owed 2,500 baht from gambling debts, possibly related to cockfighting or televised boxing bets. According to the friend, Mr. Aod said he had no money to repay the debt and remarked that if he could not pay, he might as well “let them kill me.” The friend said those were the last words he heard before giving the victim 100 baht and leaving.
The friend strongly rejected suggestions that Mr. Aod had taken his own life or died from natural causes, saying he believed his friend had been murdered. He also claimed the victim’s white Honda Click motorcycle was later ridden away from the beach by an unidentified heavy-set man.
CCTV footage obtained by reporters appears to show the unidentified man arriving at the beach on the motorcycle at 4:34 a.m. He parked before walking onto the beach. At around 4:48 a.m., the footage allegedly shows the victim lying on the sand, struggling and moving about while no one intervened, including the mystery man seen earlier. By approximately 5:23 a.m., the victim appeared motionless.
The footage then shows the unidentified man walking back from the beach, speaking with a group of transgender women about 20 metres from the body before eventually riding away on the motorcycle at around 6:27 a.m. Police have stressed that the cause of death has not yet been determined, and investigators have not concluded whether foul play was involved. The body has been transferred to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok for a full post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, investigators are working to identify and question the unidentified man, believed to be the last person seen with the victim, as they continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death.
