Police have closed their investigation into the murder of a Colombian plastic surgeon on Koh Phangan, even though most of the victim's body, allegedly dismembered by his partner, remains missing.
Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters on Tuesday that after two weeks of work, the investigation into the murder and dismembering of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, had been closed.
Arrieta was believed murdered on Koh Phangan on Aug 1, allegedly by his boyfriend, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, a popular YouTube chef.
According to Surachate, the suspect arrived in Thailand on July 31, the day before Arrieta. They planned to meet on Koh Phangan on Aug 2 so Arrieta booked a hotel room for them both to stay in. However, Mr Sancho also had a room booked at a different hotel, where he later allegedly killed his lover.
Police charge that Mr Sancho cut the body into 17 parts, some of which he stuffed into a bag he threw into the sea. The rest he allegedly put in a trash bag that he left at the local dump. These remains were discovered by local trash pickers on Aug 3.
Surachate said investigators believed the murder was premeditated. There was evidence Mr Sancho had bought a long knife, plastic bags, cleaning solutions and rubber gloves on Aug 1.
The Royal Thai Police will ask the Colombian embassy to contact Arrieta's family so they can claim his remains.
