Body found chained and weighted in Thailand

A woman's body was found chained by the neck and weighted underwater at a fishing pier in Phang Nga, with police treating it as a possible murder.

Thai police probe after woman found chained and weighted underwater

A woman’s body was found on Friday near Ban Tha Yai pier in Phang Nga’s Mueang district. Police said the victim’s identity is unknown and she was found with a heavy chain around her neck, secured to two concrete dumbbells, weighted to keep the body on the seabed. Authorities believe she may have been dead for about two days before the discovery and are treating the case as a possible murder while they pursue leads and check for missing persons matches. The autopsy will determine the cause of death and whether she was alive when she entered the water. Investigators say they will review CCTV from the pier and nearby waterways for suspicious activity in the days before the find. The report also notes a similar case in February in which a woman’s body was found in a locked suitcase weighted with dumbbells. In a separate incident, a Bangkok market shooting left multiple dead and wounded, underscoring concerns about violence in the country. Police urge anyone with information to come forward.

This case highlights how violent crime can unfold in quiet, public spaces and the ways investigators try to connect distant clues. The use of a weight and chain suggests an attempt to conceal, signaling intent rather than accident. It also tests local policing capacity to monitor waterways, sift CCTV footage, and piece together timelines. Beyond the immediate mystery, the report sits within Thailand’s broader thread of high gun ownership and sporadic mass violence that can undermine public confidence. News coverage that emphasizes procedure, rather than sensational detail, will be crucial to avoid fuelling fear while ensuring accountability. Questions linger about how often such concealment tactics appear and whether more preventive steps are possible at coastlines and piers that attract crowds.

Highlights

Authorities say updates will come as the investigation unfolds and more facts emerge.