A Danish man who had been the subject of missing person appeals in Thailand was already dead at the time those appeals were being widely circulated, it has now been confirmed.
Jakob Jensen, 41, had been the focus of numerous public appeals, including by Hua Hin Today and across social media, after his family raised concerns over his disappearance. The last known movements reported at the time placed him in Prachuap Khiri Khan in March.
It has now emerged, however, that while his family and volunteers were searching for him and media appeals were ongoing, Jakob had already died in police custody in Bangkok—just days after he was last seen.
According to ScandAsia, who supported the family’s search and helped piece together the timeline of events, Jakob died on the evening of 26 March 2025 while in custody at Phra Khanong Police Station in Bangkok. He had been detained as an unidentified foreigner after police responded to reports of a distressed man causing a disturbance in the Khlong Toei area.
Witnesses, including police and rescue personnel, say Jakob had been shouting suicidal threats in traffic and displaying behaviour that suggested he may have been under the influence of drugs. Officers treated visible injuries before placing him in a holding cell, where he was later found unresponsive. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Jakob had arrived in Thailand on 2 February and spent time with friends in the south of the country. According to accounts from his family, his mental health had deteriorated, likely as a result of missed medication and cannabis use.
On 21 March, after reportedly damaging property at a guesthouse in Ranong, he was assisted by tourist police and placed on a bus to Bangkok. He told officers he intended to visit a friend, though his family say they were unaware of anyone he knew in the capital.
A witness later claimed to have seen Jakob get off the bus in Prachuap Khiri Khan, which led to the belief that he may have travelled through or remained in the area. This was considered one of the last potential sightings of him, and formed part of the basis for subsequent missing person appeals.
In reality, Jakob had arrived in Bangkok by 22 March and was seen in a disoriented state in videos shared by a bystander. He was twice taken into custody by officers at Lumphini Police Station and, on one occasion, referred to a psychiatric hospital, where he was later released.
He was not carrying any identification at the time of his final arrest by Phra Khanong police, which contributed to the delay in linking his death with the missing person reports. His body was sent to the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, where it remained unidentified for weeks.
Jakob’s visa had expired, and he had been registered as an overstayer by Immigration Police. His phone had not been used since his departure from Ranong, and his black cabin bag remains unaccounted for.
Confirmation of his death only came after the continued efforts of his sister, Anne Jensen, in Denmark and volunteers in Thailand, including ScandAsia, who interviewed police, rescue workers, and other individuals involved.
His family has now been formally notified.