After days of searching through a forest, local authorities found a Thai woman suspected of murder perched in a longan tree in Thailand.

Rujira Iam-lamai, 38, was arrested at the border between Kamphaeng Phet and Tak provinces under the suspicion of murdering her 61-year-old Italian lover Giuseppe De Stefani.

“The team has been tracking her down since last night, and she was lost in the woods because she was not familiar with the area. She was also seen buying food from locals,” Bueng Narang police commander Pol. Col. Chaisatien Maneechak was quoted as saying.

She was caught in the same jungle where her 34-year-old boyfriend Amaury Rigaud, was arrested by police the day before. Rigaud, a Frenchman, is suspected of being her accomplice in the murder.

According to Khaosod (via Coconuts) Rujira looked exhausted when police officers finally caught up with her. She was reportedly holding a bag of food in her hands when they found her.



Rigaud has earlier denied the charges and accused Rujira of conspiring with her Thai ex-boyfriend to kill De Stefani.

Locals have claimed that it was known that Rujira had two foreign boyfriends: the victim and the Frenchman. According to some witnesses, they frequently saw Rujira fighting with De Stefani before his death.

In her police statement, however, Rujira insisted that it was Rigaud who murdered the De Stefani, who was found dead on Jan. 19 in Phichit Province.



“She [Rujira] said Amaury Rigaud was the person who killed the victim,” Maneechak was quoted noted. Rujira reportedly claimed that she merely drove the getaway car.



The police noted that Rigaud, having been a soldier for five years, is already knowledgeable in the woods and should be an expert at surviving in such environment.



The case is still under investigation as officers are currently reviewing the forensic evidence.

Feature image via Khaosod