BREAKING: Five Bodies Found Buried Near Pattaya – Russian Siblings and Thai Family Murdered by Gang Posing as Police

PATTAYA / CHONBURI, Thailand – 2 August 2026

Police have confirmed that five people — two Russian siblings and a Thai family of three — were murdered and buried in shallow graves in the jungle near Pattaya.

The bodies of 22-year-old Diana Nazimova and her 17-year-old brother Roman were discovered first. They had been missing since the early hours of 26 July after leaving their home in Huai Yai on a Honda ADV 150 motorcycle.

Just two kilometres away, officers later found the remains of a Thai couple, Wichian (53) and Chantana (50), and their 18-year-old daughter Nichapha, who had been reported missing since late June.

Four suspects are now in custody. The main suspects — Thana “Pong” Kerdthong, 43, and Thongchai “Thong” Srinil, 39 — were arrested on 31 July while fleeing toward the Cambodian border. Two other men, known as Ball and Fluke, have also been detained.

According to police, the gang repeatedly impersonated police officers to stop and overpower their victims before killing them to silence any witnesses. The Russians were allegedly stopped on the roadside. The Thai family was taken from their home at night. Robbery appears to have been the motive in both cases.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the crime scenes on Saturday and issued a public apology to the Russian people and foreign tourists. He ordered an immediate nationwide security crackdown and vowed no leniency for those involved.

The investigation is ongoing. Police say the suspects’ confessions still contain contradictions and are being checked against forensic evidence.

This is a developing story.