Prey Veng provincial police are investigating a suspected murder after a teenage girl was found dead on Tuesday morning in Pea Reang district, local authorities said yesterday.

Kompong Popil commune police identified the victim as Heng Kimhuoy, 15, from Kandal province’s Vihear Suor commune, in Khsach Kandal district.

“She was killed and abandoned, but we do not know the motive of the killing,” said Kompong Popil Commune Police Chief Heng Bunleng, adding that her motorbike was also missing and suspected stolen.

“There were three deep stab wounds in her stomach and her toenails were broken because [we suspect] she was dragged along the road,” he continued, adding that the case had been reported to authorities by a villager who, when taking his cow to graze, discovered the body in a grassy clearing in the forest.

The victim’s mother told Bunleng that her daughter had gone to Prey Veng to attend a wedding on Sunday before she had gone missing, and had consulted a fortuneteller to find her.

“The parents had looked for their daughter, and they went to see a fortuneteller to find out where she was missing,” he said, adding that the parents had identified their daughter by the clothes she wore.

According to Bunleng, there was no evidence of rape, as the victim was found fully clothed, and while he said that provincial police are now on the case, they are currently at a loss for leads.

“We do not have any clues yet,” he said.