In Nonthaburi, rescue workers are searching underwater for a man who has been missing from home for nearly a month after police interrogated a suspect who admitted knowledge of a murder involving weighting a body with cement underwater. Meanwhile, police discovered one discarded firearm.
On 26 Jun 2026 at 12:00, Police Colonel Thatsakorn Kontong, chief of Bang Bua Thong Police Station in Nonthaburi, led investigators and a dive rescue team to examine a large pond covering over 300 rai and more than 20 meters deep, located along Jeak Canal Road in Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi. This followed the arrest of a suspect named Bird, who confessed to knowing about the murder and cement weighting of Uthen Punyacharoennont's body in the pond in mid-May.
Uthen's sister filed a report with Bang Bua Thong police stating that on 19 May 2026 at about 23:00, Uthen left home riding a red and black Honda Scoopy motorcycle, license plate MorBor 942 Bangkok, and subsequently disappeared with no contact.
Later, Bang Bua Thong police detained Bird, a suspect connected to Uthen's disappearance, for questioning. Bird confessed to shooting Uthen with a firearm at a fishing raft in the pond, then placing Uthen's body in a water barrel, pouring cement over it, and rowing the boat to dump the body in the middle of the pond on the night of 21 May.
Ms. A (alias), 49, Uthen's sister, said that on 28 May 2026, her family discussed Uthen's disappearance, noting he had been missing since 21 May with no contact. Their mother last saw Uthen on Wednesday, 20 May. On Friday, 22 May, their mother tried to call Uthen to inform him of their uncle's death but could not reach him. The family was occupied with funeral arrangements, and after the event, they discussed whether anyone had heard from him. On 29 May, Ms. A took their mother to report the disappearance at Bang Bua Thong Police Station. The family had sporadic contact before, but after Uthen came to this house, he disappeared and was not seen again.
Ms. A added that her brother had been close to the homeowner for over 10 years but she did not know his deeper character. She became suspicious because Uthen borrowed the homeowner’s phone to call a friend, prompting her to inquire further. She was unsure if the case involved drugs, but noted Uthen had been released from prison on drug charges only months earlier. Upon learning police would search underwater, she came to see if it was her missing brother.
Initially, divers searched the pond where Bird indicated for over three hours but did not find the body. Police found a long shotgun at the scene and seized it as evidence to investigate possible links to the case.
Meanwhile, investigators are pursuing another suspect named Saeb, who is alleged to have shot Uthen, killed him, and concealed the body. Witnesses brought in for questioning today were present at the crime scene. Police have identified the killer and those who helped dispose of the body, but must find the body before proceeding further.