Pol Capt Thada Sodarak of Chalong Police said DNA from the skull and remains, including bones found, match Nong Dear’s parents.
“We don’t know who the person is who did this, but we have a suspect,” Capt Thada said.
Nong Dear’s mother Jaroon Tubkaew told The Phuket News she believes her daughter was raped and murdered in a case similar to that of Nong Cartoon’s – the six-year-old who was raped and murdered in Bangkok.
“I can’t bear this,” she said through tears today.
“I miss my daughter all the time and I cry every time I think about her. I don’t understand how a person could do this to a little girl – what is their heart made of?
“I really want the police to find the person responsible as soon as possible, and for them to be punished.”
Nong Dear went missing on December 6 last year after being dropped off close to home after spending an hour at her aunt’s house.
The aunt, Surin “Rin” Sridow, told The Phuket News, “On that day, her father brought her to my house around 1 pm to play with me as usual. She’s a talkative and cheerful girl and she came to my house pretty often.
“Around 2 pm she went with Boy, who is about 20 and is a very close friend of Nong Dear’s elder. He was supposed to drop her off at her home [on Soi 4], but instead – at her request – he dropped her at Soi 5, from where, she told him, she intended to walk to play with friends in Soi 2.”
That was the last time she was seen by anyone related to the family.
“Later, about 3 pm, her father came to pick her up at my house, and we became very worried and started to look for her. After searching for her everywhere without success, we decided at around 7 pm to contact Chalong police station to tell them she was missing.
On December 19, remains and a skull were found.