Queer TikTok Star Found Beaten to Death in Thailand; Arrest Made as Thousands Mourn

Thai authorities have arrested a suspect in the killing of Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, a popular LGBTQ TikTok creator from Myanmar whose beaten body was found in a forest near the Thai-Myanmar border, as thousands gathered days later to mourn the 25-year-old influencer at a funeral in Mae Sot.

Thai police have arrested a suspect in the killing of Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, a prominent LGBTQ TikTok star from Myanmar whose body was found beaten to death in a forested area of northern Thailand earlier this week, authorities said.

Htwe, 25, had been missing for nearly two days before his body was discovered Tuesday beneath a tree in a forest near Phathong village in the Mae Sot District, about 300 miles northwest of Bangkok and close to the Myanmar border. Mae Sot is a major transit hub for migrants and refugees fleeing conflict and economic instability in neighboring Myanmar.

Police Colonel Rang Dawdueng, superintendent of the Mae Sot Police Station, confirmed Wednesday that one suspect had been arrested in connection with the killing, according to Thairath Online. Authorities had initially been searching for at least two suspects, the Bangkok Post reported. Investigators have not released details about the suspect or potential charges, saying the investigation remains ongoing.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Htwe’s body face down and bloodied, with his underwear and sweatpants pulled down around his buttocks, according to local media reports. Police believe he was beaten to death with a wooden stick, which was found nearby and covered in blood.

Htwe’s personal belongings, including a shoulder bag, cosmetics, a bank book, and condoms, were found at the scene. His jewelry and cellphone were missing, raising questions about whether robbery was a motive, though police have not publicly confirmed a motive.

Sources close to Htwe told Khaosod English that he disappeared around midnight Sunday after receiving a call via social media from someone asking for help. Authorities believe the call may have been used to lure Htwe to the remote location where he was killed.

Htwe, known online as Irrawaddy Ma, had amassed more than 1 million followers on TikTok, where he posted lifestyle content, dance videos, and clips featuring his partner. His posts often drew tens of thousands of likes and comments, particularly from LGBTQ fans across Southeast Asia.

His last TikTok upload, posted Jan. 19, showed him lip-syncing to a popular song while modeling new shirts. After news of his death spread, the video’s comment section filled with messages of grief and disbelief.

“It hurts my heart how quickly a human life is taken away,” one fan wrote.

“I’m sorry, may God bless you,” another commented.

On Jan. 24, thousands of people attended Htwe’s funeral at a cemetery in Mae Sot, underscoring the depth of his influence and the shock surrounding his death. Family members, friends, and fans dressed in black and carried large photographs of the late creator during the somber procession, according to photos published by the Daily News, a Thai newspaper.

Htwe’s sister, Ye Ye Ae, broke down in tears during the ceremony, Khaosod reported. Mourners gathered to pay their respects, some traveling long distances to honor the influencer they had followed online for years.

The Mae Sot Police Station received the initial report of a body around 4 p.m. on Jan. 20, according to Thairath. Police later confirmed the identity as Htwe, whose body had been “brutalized and abandoned,” it was reported.

Colonel Rang Dawdueng said last week that one suspect had been taken into custody, but he emphasized that investigators were continuing to pursue additional leads and examine evidence. Authorities have not said whether the killing is being investigated as a hate crime, and Thailand does not have comprehensive hate crime legislation covering sexual orientation or gender identity.

The killing has drawn widespread attention on social media, where LGBTQ advocates and fans have called for justice and greater protections for queer people, particularly migrants and asylum seekers who may face heightened vulnerability to violence and exploitation.

Thailand is often viewed as relatively tolerant toward LGBTQ people compared with other countries in the region, but activists say discrimination and violence persist, especially against transgender people and foreign nationals.

As the investigation continues, fans of Ko Tin Zaw Htwe have continued to share his videos, photos, and messages online, turning his social media pages into digital memorials and renewing calls for accountability in his death.