Backpacker found raped and murdered on Thai island
A young German backpacker, whose body was found buried under leaves and rocks on an island in Thailand, was raped before her face was smashed with a rock, police have said.
Miriam Beelte, 26, was travelling on a rental motorbike at Koh Si Chang, an island south of Bangkok, where she was approached by local man Ronnakorn Romruen.
He allegedly asked her for sex, and when she refused he followed her and attacked her in a woodland area, pinning her to the ground where he raped her, police said.
The 24-year-old then allegedly used a rock to repeatedly beat her in the face.
Ms Beelte suffered severe head wounds and a broken leg in the attack. Her body was found on Sunday.
An investigator at Chonburi police station, Somkid Kaensa, said police have charged Romruen with murder, rape and concealing a body.
Police said the suspect, who operates a trash collecting boat, admitted to the crimes and said he used drugs before the incident.
Footage shows suspect re-enact alleged murder
Chilling footage released by local authorities shows Romruen re-enacting the moment he killed the young tourist.
With a blue hood over his head, he uses a brick to motion how he attacked her.
Koh Si Chang is a popular weekend tourist destination for both locals and foreigners with a population of only 5000 people.
Mr Kaensa said a Thai tourist called police after they saw Romruen’s clothes covered in blood and police then searched the area and discovered the tourist’s body.
Mr Kaensa said a flower vendor who knew Romruen also saw that his clothes were covered in blood and asked him what he was doing.
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He said the vendor identified the suspect for police, who went to his home where they found him and the shirt that was covered in blood.
The maximum punishment for premeditated murder is the death penalty.
with Associated Press
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