Police find no further bodies in Huay Yai coconut grove

Police have found no further bodies or evidence after excavating four suspected locations in a coconut grove in Huay Yai, Chonburi, linked to the murder case involving five victims.

The search, carried out on 6 August 2026, focused on land beside Motorway 7 in Moo 11, Huay Yai subdistrict, Bang Lamung district. The site is close to Pattaya and lies about 300-400 metres from where the bodies of two Russian siblings were buried, and near the burial location of a family of three.

At 1pm, Provincial Police Region 2 Commissioner Lt Gen Chatchai Surachetphong led the operation alongside Chonburi provincial police commander Maj Gen Phongphan Wongmanithep and Huay Yai police chief Pol Col Warawut Nittayawan.

Regional, provincial and Huay Yai investigators were joined by rescuers from the Pattaya City Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation. They used a small excavator and grain penetrating radar equipment to examine the grove.

Four sites excavated

The operation followed a reconstruction on 31 July, when the suspect, Thana, known as "Pong", pointed out locations in the area in connection with the five deaths.

Police said he had walked around, appeared hesitant and identified positions inaccurately during the reconstruction. Investigators therefore decided not to rely entirely on his account and brought in underground scanning technology from Summit Engineering and Service Co Ltd, supported by specialists from Silpakorn University.

The scanner identified four locations requiring further checks.

At the first, officers dug about 1.5 metres down, opening an area around 3.5 metres wide after detecting an unusual signal. They found only natural rocks.

The second location appeared on the scan to resemble an underground cavity. Excavation reached about two metres, with an opening around 2.5 metres wide, but again revealed only a rock layer.

At the third and fourth locations, both excavated to around two metres, officers found no abnormalities, bodies or suspicious objects.

Police say doubts at the site are resolved

Lt Gen Chatchai said the operation had addressed questions around the location identified by the suspect. Although the suspect has confessed, police wanted to examine every lead thoroughly to ensure the evidence was as complete as possible.

He said this was also intended to reassure relatives of those who died and the wider public that there were no other victims buried in the area.

Investigators said they will continue gathering evidence and pursuing all aspects of the case to ensure the prosecution is comprehensive and robust.

Picture courtesy of Amarin

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6 August 2026

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