Thitim ‘Bell’ Noraphanpiphat, 25, was found dead in the lobby of the Casa Condo Ratchada-Ratchaphruek building in the Talat Phlu area of the Thailand capital
A 24-year-old male model has been arrested over the death of a Thai beauty who was ‘abducted’ and dumped in a hotel lobby.
Thitim ‘Bell’ Noraphanpiphat, บ้านเดี่ยว ราชพฤกษ์ 25, was found dead in the reception of the Casa Condo Ratchada-Ratchaphruek building in the Talat Phlu area of Bangkok in the early hours of September 17.
Chilling footage appeared to show a man carrying her body into the building’s elevator, before taking her into the lobby, placing her on the floor and walking away.
Ratchadech Wongtabut, a 24-year-old male model, was arrested on Wednesday.
Wongtabut is accused of taking unconscious Ms Noraphanpiphat to his apartment, boasting online about his sexual exploits, and leaving her lifeless body in the building. Police believe he planned to sexually assault her.
Ratchadech Wongtabut talks to reporters at the Bukkhalo Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand on September 18. He has since been arrested in connection to Ms Noraphanpiphat’s death
Police brought charges of illegal detention leading to death, abduction with intent of committing an indecent act and molestation.
The victim made a living as a ‘pretty,’ a term used to describe young women hired for events to post seductively with products they are promoting.
Ms Noraphanpiphat, who used Lunlabelle as her professional name, was hired to attend a party on September 16. She left the event with Wongtabut.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Sutthipong Wongpin told a news conference on Wednesday that Wongtabut acknowledged bringing the victim to his apartment but said he had no intention to harm her.
Wongtabut also claimed he did not realise Ms Noraphanpiphat was dead while she was with him, the commissioner said.
The victim made a living as a ‘pretty,’ a term used to describe young women hired for events to post seductively with products they are promoting
Thitim ‘Bell’ Noraphanpiphat, 25, was found dead in the building’s lobby
It was announced on Tuesday that Ms Noraphanpiphat may have already been dead by the time the accused took her home.
Police said on Wednesday that the autopsy found Ms Noraphanpiphat had died from extreme alcohol intoxication, citing a blood alcohol concentration of 418 milligrams per 100 milliliters.
There was speculation the victim was given a date rape drug like GHB but the substance rapidly disappears from the blood stream, making it difficult to confirm.
Police are also investigating if others were involved in the incident, notably the owner and guests at the house party Ms Noraphanpiphat attended before she died.