BANGKOK – Police have arrested two Russian men accused of killing and dismembering their fellow Russian national, then burying his body parts in multiple locations in Chonburi. The case began after officers found the remains of Mikhail Emelianov , a 30-year-old Russian man.
Investigators said he was killed, cut into pieces, and buried in seven separate spots near a pond along Soi Phatthanakan 4, Moo 10, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chonburi. He had gone missing under suspicious circumstances after sending a final message to his mother.
Police later detained Yaroslav Temidov and Dmitry Masdalev, both Russian, at a hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 71 in Bangkok. They are suspects in the killing of Emelianov.
Investigators said a key piece of evidence came from CCTV in the neighborhood near Soi Phatthanakan 4. Footage from 3:18 p.m. on Jan. 9 shows two men riding a motorcycle out of the area.
Police noted the seat looked partly open, and they suspect the storage space under the seat was used to hide body parts before they were taken to be buried in a wooded area of more than 10 acres.
After digging up the burial sites and laying the recovered pieces together, officers found that a section from the chest to the waist was still missing. The search for the remaining parts continues.
Through an interpreter, the victim’s mother said her son had been in Pattaya for about two years for business. Before he disappeared, he told her he was going to settle a business issue with two Russian friends. She said he shared his location with her while traveling.
His last message warned her that he didn’t feel safe, and if she couldn’t reach him for more than two hours, she should report it to the police. After that, contact stopped.
Police believe the motive may be tied to a debt linked to drugs. The mother reportedly received threatening messages in Russian claiming her son had stolen cocaine worth about 4 million baht. The messages demanded repayment and threatened violence if the money wasn’t returned.
Pol. Col. Nattapol Phongsuksakul, superintendent of Nong Prue Police Station, said both suspects have not given many details during questioning. They admitted they knew the victim and had a dispute over money. Officers plan more questioning as the investigation moves forward.
Authorities have filed initial charges against the two suspects, including intentional murder, concealing a body, and unlawful detention for ransom. Police are also working to locate the missing torso section as part of the ongoing case.
