An official with the Phnom Kravanh district land management office was found dead in a rental room in Pursat province on Wednesday by his landlord and is suspected to have been murdered by a housemate.

District Police Chief Vorng Savet said authorities came to the conclusion after questioning several witnesses and performing an autopsy on the victim, Heng Rattanak, 25.

“The medics and forensic experts found two injury marks on the body including cuts to the right temple and left forearm. He was slashed with an axe and cleaver,” he said.

Savet added that authorities also found bloody footprints leading from the victim’s room to a room next door, which is occupied by Phon Marady, who is now thought to be on the run.

The landlord, Nhem Trorng, 47, said that on Wednesday morning she saw that the door to the victim’s room was open, but the gate to the house was locked.

“I shouted for [Rattanak] many times, but no one came out to open the gate for me,” she said.

She entered his room, only to find the victim lying dead on the floor.