Horrific murder and dismemberment of a foreign man with his body parts buried in the Bang Lamung area. The victim is believed to be a missing Russian man. Police are pursuing the killing team linked to fellow nationals after uncovering threatening chat messages demanding repayment of debts.
At 16:00 on 1 Feb 2026, Mr. Mikhail Emelianov, 30, a Russian national, disappeared without a trace. His mother, Mrs. Olga Lazabenko, 51, flew from Russia to Thailand to file a police report seeking help to find her son, fearing something bad had happened. Before disappearing, her son had been threatened via messages by a compatriot demanding repayment of a debt exceeding $120,000, or about 3.7 million baht. His fate remains unknown. The report was filed on 8 Jan 2026.
After receiving the complaint from the Russian mother, Pol. Col. Natthaphon Phongsuksakul, superintendent of Nong Prue Police Station, and Pol. Col. Phasakorn Paijit, chief of investigations for Chonburi Provincial Police, led investigative teams from Nong Prue station and Chonburi Provincial Police’s investigation unit to the area. They reviewed all CCTV footage to trace the missing person.
Recently, at about 16:00, the body of Mr. Mikhail Emelianov was found brutally murdered and dismembered, with parts buried at seven locations near a pond within Soi Phatthana 4, Village No. 10, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. After the discovery, the commanding officers were informed. Pol. Maj. Gen. Phongphan Wongmanithes, commander of Chonburi Provincial Police, investigators from Nong Prue Police Station, forensic police from Chonburi Crime Scene Unit 2, and a medical examiner went to examine the scene.
The crime scene was an abandoned plot of about 10 rai (approximately 4 acres). Preliminary inspection revealed the victim's dismembered body parts buried in five separate spots, each about 1–2 meters apart. Some body parts were wrapped in black plastic bags, others in clothing. The clothing found matched what Mr. Emelianov wore on the day he disappeared: a black crew-neck shirt and light green pants. Police are verifying the identity, but evidence suggests it is the same person missing for over 23 days.
Meanwhile, Chonburi provincial detectives have apprehended a foreign suspect believed involved in this case. The suspect was captured in Bangkok and is currently under police custody for interrogation. The motive for this brutal murder is suspected to be debt-related, as threatening chat messages demanded repayment of $120,000, warning that failure to pay would result in body parts being sold. Authorities are conducting further investigations to confirm details.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.