Skip to content 
Thai police are investigating the killing of Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, a 25-year-old Myanmar national known for LGBTQ-focused TikTok content, after his body was found in a forested area near the Thai-Myanmar border. Authorities say early evidence points to a violent, premeditated attack, with robbery among the leading suspected motives.
Ko Tin Zaw Htwe built a sizable online audience by posting lifestyle and dancing content, often appearing alongside a partner.
His follower count varies by outlet, ranging from more than 159,000 to nearly 1 million, but his visibility was unmistakable in Myanmar’s online LGBTQ community.
Body Discovered in Mae Sot District
Police in Mae Sot district, Tak province, were notified on January 20, 2026, after a body was reported in a grassy forest area near Phathong village in the Mae Tao subdistrict, according to Thai reporting. Officers and forensic personnel went to the scene and identified the victim as Ko Tin Zaw Htwe.
Thai investigators described signs of severe violence. Initial examinations reported blunt-force injuries to the head, with dried blood on the face. A bloodstained wooden stick was found nearby and believed to be the weapon used.
Personal items were reportedly scattered around the area, including a shoulder bag and documents. Police also recovered items such as cosmetics and a bank book, details that suggest the victim’s belongings were disturbed at the scene.
“Late-Night Call for Help” and a Sudden Disappearance
@tmz 💔 25-yr-old TikTok star Ko Tin Zaw Htwe found beaten to death in a forest in Thailand. Investigation ongoing. 🙏
People close to Ko Tin Zaw Htwe told police he left his accommodation late at night on January 18 after receiving a request for help via social media, then never returned, according to Thai local reporting in English.
That detail has become central to investigators’ working theory: police believe the attacker or attackers may have used a pretext to lure him away from home, arranging to meet at an isolated location rather than somewhere public or familiar.
Robbery Suspected as Valuables Reported Missing
Authorities say multiple valuables were missing, including gold jewelry and a phone, a point that has fueled the robbery suspicion.
Police have described the killing as likely planned in advance, citing the secluded location and the circumstances around how the meeting was arranged.
At Least One Arrest Reported
Thai police have confirmed at least one suspect was arrested in connection with the death, though investigators have not publicly released full details about the suspect or the evidence underpinning the arrest, according to international coverage and regional reporting.
The investigation is ongoing, with police continuing witness interviews and forensic collection as they work to establish a clearer timeline and identify additional suspects, if any.
A Case Unfolding in a Tense Border Region
Mae Sot sits on a border corridor that has long been shaped by cross-border movement from Myanmar into Thailand, including migrants and people fleeing conflict.
Human Rights Watch has documented how many Myanmar nationals in Thailand live with insecurity tied to documentation problems, frequent police scrutiny, and the constant fear of detention or deportation, conditions that can make daily life more precarious.
That broader context does not explain what happened to Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, but it matters when assessing vulnerability and the risks faced by high-visibility public figures, especially those who are LGBTQ and living away from home.
What Is Confirmed, and What Remains Unclear
Authorities have described a brutal killing and an investigation moving quickly enough to produce at least one arrest. But key questions remain unresolved in public reporting:
- whether robbery was the sole motive, or part of a larger set of circumstances
- whether one person acted alone or multiple suspects were involved
- who initiated the social-media contact that pulled him out late at night, and why
For now, the clearest facts are grim: a young creator with a large audience was found dead in an isolated area, killed by blunt-force violence, with investigators pointing to a planned attack and missing valuables.
