Hiker Found Dead in Doi Suthep After Reported Family Crisis
A man reported missing by his wife has been found dead in Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep National Park, after reportedly venturing into the forest with no intention of returning, according to local officials and police reports released this week.
Authorities in Chiang Mai confirmed on 31 July 2025 that the body discovered deep within Doi Suthep’s forested terrain was likely a 31-year-old Thai man from Chonburi Province, who had been suffering personal difficulties. While official identification is pending, evidence provided by the man’s wife has linked him to the body.
Jitrarporn Kanthi, the village head of Doi Suthep, said she had turned to social media to help identify the deceased after police were initially unable to confirm his identity. A viral post led a woman from Chonburi to reach out, reporting her husband missing after he traveled north under mysterious circumstances.
The woman told authorities her husband had left their home in Chonburi on 12 July 2025, amid ongoing family problems. He left behind his car, identification documents, and mobile phone, then travelled by train to Chiang Mai. On 13 July, he reportedly visited Chiang Mai City Police Station and used a borrowed phone to call his wife, urging her to file a missing persons report. It was the last time she heard from him.
Park officials and police later discovered the body in a remote section of the park. He was dressed in black pants and a grey long-sleeved shirt. Roughly 10 meters from the body, investigators found a black backpack containing clothing, hiking gear, shoes, and sealed bottles of water. No form of ID or phone was recovered at the scene.
An initial examination determined the body had been there for over a week and was in an advanced state of decomposition. No visible injuries were identified. The cause of death has not yet been established, pending a detailed forensic analysis by the Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.
The man, who reportedly had a passion for hiking and suffered from chronic asthma, may have entered the forest voluntarily following emotional distress.
Authorities have not released the name of the deceased pending final confirmation and notification of next of kin.