Police have confirmed they have now arrested two men over the disappearance of two Russian siblings, with investigators preparing to take them to Khao Chi Chan in Chonburi to identify possible search locations, for the bodies.

Thana "Pong" Kerdthong, 43, and Thongchai "Thong" Srinil, 39, were detained in Wang Sombun district, Sa Kaeo, on 31 July 2026 after allegedly fleeing Bang Lamung district in Chonburi by motorcycle.

Arrests after search

The pair were suspects in a case involving joint night-time theft using a vehicle, or receiving stolen property. Police have also linked them to the disappearance of the Russian brother and sister, whose fate has remained unknown until the arrests.

Officers have continued searches all day, across suspected locations in the case. Following the arrests, police said the men would be taken to point out locations around Khao Chi Chan, in Chonburi.

Thongchai reportedly told police after his arrest, that Pong shot both Russian siblings dead before burying them on the mountain.

The suspected burial area is believed to be near the place where a motorcycle mudguard was found, on the route leading to Wat Yanasangwararam Woramahavihara.

Suspects make conflicting accounts

Pong reportedly admitted killing the younger brother by shooting him. He allegedly said the older sister died after being punched, claiming the attack was motivated by a desire to steal their motorcycle.

He further claimed that the bodies were buried to conceal the crime before the men fled. Pong denied that rape had taken place and that he only wanted to steal the motorcycle.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

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31 July 2026

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What we feared happened is apparently true.

RIP.

Am I missing something here? The pair murdered the Russians for their motorcycle, and then buried it?

Just now, Bangkok Barry said:

Am I missing something here? The pair murdered the Russians for their motorcycle, and then buried it?

They took parts off of it then buried what was remaining.

These two deserve the untimate sentence... awful crime and completely no need to kill them, just steal the bike and sell it. However, highly likely they are a couple of lying piles of manure and that more took place like rape as he was known for it.

I think the claim 'they wanted to steal their motorcycle' is nonsense. Again, I wonder if Pong was a drug dealer and they went to him (or were led to him) to get drugs and then things went very dark for the pair of young Russians.

The news mentioned quite a large croc farm close by. Worth having a look there for any remains.

Then hang the perps.

1 minute ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Am I missing something here? The pair murdered the Russians for their motorcycle, and then buried it?

I am sure more News will come up soon and bring more light to this murder case, since the 2 men are in custody now.

2 young lives destroyed for what? It's just heart breaking

Those poor kids. This story is far from over. Let's hope the police reveal more details. In any case, good detective work (again) by the police.

23 minutes ago, WHansen said:

What we feared happened is apparently true.

RIP.

Terrible loss for the family, can’t imagine what their mother is experiencing now.

UPDATE

Video of the arrests

20 minutes ago, novacova said:

They took parts off of it then buried what was remaining.

So they murdered two people for spare parts. Okay.

Congrats to everyone who made stories about the kids and their mother. You should all be proud of yourselves. Really. Instead of waiting for more information, you gossip girls managed to create horrible stories without even knowing what happened to them or why.

30 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

I think the claim 'they wanted to steal their motorcycle' is nonsense. Again, I wonder if Pong was a drug dealer and they went to him (or were led to him) to get drugs and then things went very dark for the pair of young Russians.

With absolutely no evidence of that, why would any rational person assert that?

Edited 21 minutes ago21 min by Liverpool Lou

12 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Congrats to everyone who made stories about the kids and their mother. You should all be proud of yourselves. Really. Instead of waiting for more information, you gossip girls managed to create horrible stories without even knowing what happened to them or why.

Just par for the course for so many Asean Now posters.

The siblings left their house at 4.00 am telling their mother they were going to a 7-11, but in fact they went the opposite way.

Have I remembered that right?

So it stands to reason they were either out for a joyride or they were going to meet someone.

I think the latter may be the case.

1 minute ago, bannork said:

The siblings left their house at 4.00 am telling their mother they were going to a 7-11, but in fact they went the opposite way.

Have I remembered that right?

So it stands to reason they were either out for a joyride or they were going to meet someone.

I think the latter may be the case.

Neither of those situations "stands to reason".

42 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Those poor kids. This story is far from over. Let's hope the police reveal more details. In any case, good detective work (again) by the police.

Remember, you never walk alone in Thailand!

7 minutes ago, bannork said:

The siblings left their house at 4.00 am telling their mother they were going to a 7-11, but in fact they went the opposite way.

Have I remembered that right?

So it stands to reason they were either out for a joyride or they were going to meet someone.

I think the latter may be the case.

In one of the biggest russian news agency story is a bit different.

Translated by google translate.

They suddenly left home on a motorcycle at 4:00 a.m. local time (8:00 a.m. Moscow time). Twenty minutes later, their mother, who was in Bangkok at the time, received a text message from Diana containing only the word "Urgent!" (emergency). Then contact with her brother and sister was lost.

1 minute ago, aluc said:

In one of the biggest russian news agency story is a bit different.

Translated by google translate.

They suddenly left home on a motorcycle at 4:00 a.m. local time (8:00 a.m. Moscow time). Twenty minutes later, their mother, who was in Bangkok at the time, received a text message from Diana containing only the word "Urgent!" (emergency). Then contact with her brother and sister was lost.

That makes much more sense than the original Thai reporting that made it seem her mother was at home and was aware the pair were going out to a conveinece store. That is much clearer - thanks.

UPDATE

“Pong” Claims Five Murders After Arrest

Pictures courtesy of ฉลาม นิวส์

The Thai man known as “Pong”, who had reportedly been released from prison only a month before this arrest, confessed to police that he was responsible for a series of five murders, according to statements made to investigators and reporters following his detention.

Police said the suspect claimed the first three victims were members of the same family - a father, mother and child - who were allegedly killed during a robbery before their bodies were buried together in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

Investigators said the suspect further claimed responsibility for the killings of two Russian siblings. Claiming he shoot the boy and punched the girl to death.

The admissions were reportedly made during questioning after the arrest of the suspect and accomplice. Police stressed that the claims form part of an ongoing investigation and will need to be verified through forensic evidence.

Authorities have not yet confirmed if all details of the suspect’s statements are real. The suspects are being taken back to the scene, to show investigators the locations of the bodies.

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31 July 2026

13 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Remember, you never walk alone in Thailand!

You probably need to explain what that is supposed to mean.

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Am I missing something here? The pair murdered the Russians for their motorcycle, and then buried it?

It was most probably not planned to murder them. My guess is that as things went not as planned they buried it to get rid of the evidence. Anyway, we can only speculate here.