The former member of the Thai idol boy band ‘Dragon 5,’ Thaman ‘Tae’ Taephan, went missing in the early hours of the 6th after leaving home on a bicycle. On the 7th, his body was found in the Chao Phraya River. An initial inspection showed no obvious external injuries on the body, leading some to speculate suicide. However, his family revealed that he was preparing for ordination as a monk before his death and would never have chosen to take his own life, casting doubt on the circumstances of his death.
At the time, Tae was wearing cycling gear and carrying a black backpack in which over 20kg of cement bricks and blocks were found. His off-white bicycle is yet to be found and has become a focal point in the investigation. His partner reported him missing to the police on the day of his disappearance, stating that he left home without his phone, wallet, or GPS watch, something completely out of character for him.
The family has expressed doubts over the possibility of suicide. His mother disclosed that he often visited temples for meditation and had been preparing for ordination—the related paperwork was already completed and only the date of ordination was yet to be set. He had been making arrangements for this recently, and it was impossible for him to have chosen to commit suicide. The case has sparked widespread discussion, with many netizens suspecting he might have been murdered, given the unusual presence of heavy cement bricks in his backpack. Others have pointed to the complexity of the Thai entertainment industry, suggesting it may be linked to his death, and have called on authorities to thoroughly investigate and uncover the truth.
News Source: ETtoday Star News