The vibrant life of Ko Tin Zaw Htwe, a 25-year-old TikTok sensation and LGBTQ+ icon, has been extinguished in a brutal act of violence that has shocked his millions of followers. The influencer’s battered body was discovered deep in a forest in Thailand’s Mae Sot district, days after he vanished following a mysterious "cry for help."

Known to his fans as "Ayeyarwady Ma," Htwe used his platform to champion confidence and joy. His murder, which police believe was premeditated and motivated by robbery, has sparked an outpouring of grief and anger across Myanmar and Thailand.

A Call in the Night

Investigators reveal a chilling timeline. On the night of January 18, Htwe received a distress call via social media from someone he reportedly trusted. He rushed out to help, leaving the safety of his accommodation, and never returned. Two days later, his body was found under a large tree, face down in the dirt.

• The Scene: Police found a bloodstained wooden stick nearby—the suspected murder weapon. Htwe had suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head and stab wounds.
• The Motive: It appears to have been a trap. Htwe’s gold necklace, rings, bracelet, and iPhone 17 were all missing.
• The Suspects: Thai police have arrested one suspect and are hunting for a second. Authorities believe the killers lured him to the secluded spot specifically to rob and kill him.

For a young man who lived his life in the spotlight, spreading positivity, his lonely death in a dark forest is a devastating end. "He was so nice," one fan wrote, echoing the sentiments of a community that has lost one of its brightest stars.