A group of local trappers in Oddar Meanchey province on Saturday stumbled across the badly decomposed body of a young woman who police believe was raped and murdered about a month ago, officials said Sunday.
The woman’s body, stripped of all clothing and most of its flesh, was found about 500 meters from O’Romduol village in Trapaing Prasat district’s Preah Brolay commune, according to deputy provincial police chief Loek Sokha.
“The local villagers went to trap wild chickens in the forest, and on their way back, they smelled something bad and found the body,” Mr. Sokha said.
“After we got a report from those people, we came to examine the bones,” he said, adding that the woman was about 20 years old.
Acting district police chief In Lorn said investigators suspected the woman had been raped and murdered, as her clothing was found in a pile nearby, but had not been able to identify the victim or her alleged attacker.
“The suspect could have been killed at the scene or somewhere else, but the suspect brought the body here to destroy the evidence,” Mr. Lorn said.
“We called the village chief to ask him to ask if anyone is missing their daughter,” he added.
