Female Backpacker Raped, Murdered By Local Man 'High On Meth' In Thailand

A female German backpacker was raped and murdered while holidaying on the island of Koh Sichang off the eastern coast of Thailand on Sunday. Miriam Beelte, 26, from Hildesheim, Germany, was found dead with severe wounds to her head and a broken leg, local police said.

Investigators arrested a 24-year-old local man, identified as Ronnakorn Romruen. He reportedly confessed to raping and killing the young woman while he was "high on meth." He provided details of how he met the woman and tried to become friendly with her before attacking her.

Police said Beelte's body was found hidden behind some rocks and was partially covered with leaves. A passerby spotted the body and called authorities, who arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. Police believe Beelte had been dead for nearly five hours before her body was discovered.

"The body of the victim will be sent to the forensic hospital for a full examination to find the exact cause of death," police official Angkul Sarakul said. "We immediately contacted the German embassy for them to communicate with the relatives of the victim."

Beelte had been holidaying in the nearby city of Pattaya when she decided to take a boat to the island, local media Bangkok Post reported.

In his confession, Romruen said he saw the tourist riding a rented motorcycle on the island. He approached her and asked her for sex but when she refused, he followed her to a rock path leading to Phra Chulachomklao mountain and Assadang flagpole, where he raped her.

After raping her, the native of Koh Sichang district killed her by repeatedly smashing her in the face with a rock, the Bangkok Post reported. Romruen said he feared the woman would report the rape to police.

The suspect was held in police custody at Koh Sichang police station and was later taken to Chonburi province to be remanded in custody. Romruen would be charged with murder, rape and concealment of a body.

The German government or its embassy in Thailand hadn't yet reacted to the incident, but there is a travel advisory on the website of Germany's ministry of foreign affairs.

"Thailand's crime records increasing crime (including theft, rape, robbery, sometimes fatal). This applies in particular to the tourism strongholds Phuket, Koh Samui and Pattaya. At the monthly 'Moonlight Parties' (Full Moon Party) on the island north of Koh Samui (Koh) Pha Ngan there have been several deadly incidents. Women and girls have been repeatedly raped by drugged or alcoholic participants," it warned.

Meanwhile, a Janurary advisory issued by U.S. urged its citizens traveling to Thailand to exercise normal precautions in some areas, including ala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla provinces, due to civil unrest.