On May 18, 2025, police in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province recovered the body of a local disc jockey, whose disappearance days earlier had prompted a large-scale search. The victim, 36-year-old Warapong Khunsrichaturoong, known professionally as DJ Tate, was found dead with gunshot wounds in a forested area after last being seen on May 14, when he was reportedly abducted.
Authorities were alerted to the discovery after a local resident, while foraging for mushrooms, stumbled upon the body near Thung Na Nang Rok village in Lat Ya subdistrict, Muang district. According to police, the corpse showed signs of being left for several days and had two gunshot wounds to the forehead. The remains were transported to the Forensic Institute for further examination.
Security camera footage captured the moment DJ Tate was forcibly taken from his car in the early hours of May 14. He had been en route to meet a woman identified as Nam, after finishing a late-night performance. In the footage, he appeared to notice a vehicle following him and was heard expressing concern in a phone call shortly before being pulled from his vehicle.
Family members reported the DJ missing on May 15. His girlfriend, Premyuda, later told investigators she had warned him about the woman he was going to meet, whom she believed had connections to organized crime. DJ Tate had assured her the relationship had ended.
One of the suspects, Thanadech, has already been detained under a warrant issued by the Kanchanaburi Provincial Court. Police indicated that additional suspects are likely to face arrest, with warrants expected to be requested on May 19. Investigators believe the killing may be linked to the victim’s personal connections.
On the evening of May 18, DJ Tate’s father, Wichian, traveled from Kalasin province to Kanchanaburi and filed a formal complaint at the local police station, accompanied by lawyer Ronarong Kaewphet. The complaint includes charges of premeditated murder and concealment of a body. He expressed gratitude for the authorities’ efforts in locating his son, though noted the pain of the violent manner in which he died.
