Police are searching for a murder suspect in Pursat province after the bloodied body of a teenage girl was discovered in a rice field early yesterday.

James McCabe, head of the Child Protection Unit, which is helping investigate the case, said the body of the 14-year-old girl was found in Sre Sdok commune around 7:30am.

McCabe said the girl was last seen at around 11pm on Saturday when she left a neighbour’s house where she had been watching television.

“The victim wasn’t missed because it’s not unusual for her to stay the night” at her friend’s house, he said.

According to McCabe, the victim was discovered face-down in the rice field with “head trauma and facial injuries”.

“There doesn’t appear to be any signs of a struggle.”

A pair of flip-flops and a bloody branch were later found near the murder scene. McCabe said several people were being interviewed in connection with the murder.

Liv Seng Him, Kandieng district police chief, named the victim as Sao Sok.

“Police are trying to investigate to find and arrest the suspect,” he said.