The manhunt ended with the capture of two ruthless criminals who killed and buried five bodies. It began with the abduction of two Russian siblings in Chonburi. The suspects impersonated officials to deceive victims before burying them following a robbery.
The chase pursued Thanat, known as “Pong,” 43, and Thongchai, known as “Thong,” 39, suspects in a nighttime theft involving a vehicle or receiving stolen goods, also linked to the disappearance of two Russian siblings.
Both were arrested in a forest along the Chanthaburi-Sa Kaeo road, Wang Mai Subdistrict, Wang Sombun District, Sa Kaeo Province. Thongchai was caught first, while Thanat fled into the forest. Police closely pursued and heavily pressured him until he was captured, along with a handgun and a hand grenade seized.
While escorting the suspects to point out the burial site, Thongchai, who had dug the graves, claimed he could not recall the exact spot, only remembering a line of four coconut trees. Officials excavated near the first tree but found nothing. At the second tree, just one meter down, they uncovered a decomposed body reduced to flesh and bones. Digging 1.5 meters deeper revealed three overlapped bodies in one pit—father, mother, and child—who had mysteriously disappeared from house number 449/40, Moo 10, Huay Yai Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi. Relatives reported them missing at Huay Yai Police Station on 7 July.
The first body was Miss Nichapha Wongsa, 18. Next was Mr. Wichian Wongsa, 53, whose hands were handcuffed. The last was Miss Chantana Chatin, 50, with both wrists tied. Forensic police from Chonburi scanned the bodies and found bullet fragments: two in Nichapha, one in Wichian, and one in Chantana. It is presumed all three were fatally shot. However, police will conduct detailed autopsies at the forensic institute to confirm the cause of death.
As rescue teams lifted the bodies from the pit, relatives observing broke down in tears and fainted. Emergency responders rushed to provide first aid promptly.
Mrs. Tukta, sister of Chantana Chatin, tearfully shared that after her sister, brother-in-law, and niece disappeared, the family initially believed they had gone on errands or were temporarily unreachable. But as days passed without contact, suspicion grew since Chantana always called family when traveling. Upon checking their home, the car, motorcycle, and belongings were intact with no signs of struggle or disturbance. The family searched the area, including the nearby forest, but found no clues. Later, they noticed a Honda Wave motorcycle was missing, which heightened their concern.
For nearly a month, the family continued feeding the house dog and repeatedly called Chantana, her niece, and brother-in-law with no answer. They requested police to track mobile signals but saw no progress. News that the Russian siblings’ case involved three more deceased buried nearby prompted them to investigate, ultimately discovering it was their own family.
Mrs. Tukta stated that without the investigation into the Russian siblings’ case leading to the suspects’ capture and the burial site, the family might never have learned the fate of her sister, niece, and brother-in-law. She confirmed the family had exhausted all efforts to find the missing, including filing police reports, coordinating with authorities, and contacting network providers, but legal authority prevented them from acting independently.