Russian man found dismembered in Chonburi; two suspects arrested

Chonburi police have detained two Russian suspects for allegedly killing a compatriot, dismembering him and burying the body parts in five different locations in Bang Lamung district.

The victim has been identified as Mikhail Emelianov, 30. He was reported missing on January 8 by his mother, who flew from Russia to Thailand to file a missing person report.

Following the filing, police launched an intensive investigation, reviewing CCTV footage from the Koh Larn and Pattaya areas.

The search led to a vacant plot near a pond in Soi Phatthanakan 4, Moo 10 in Nong Prue sub-district of Bang Lamung, where human remains, believed to be those of Emelianov, were discovered.

Some body parts were wrapped in black plastic bags, while others were wrapped in clothing, matching those which Emelianov was last seen wearing, according to police.

They also say that the clothing and personal belongings found buried with the remains are key evidence linking them to Emelianov.

Forensic officers, investigators and medical personnel examined the scene, which covers roughly 1.6 hectares of unused land.

A nearby resident said her dog had dragged home an object stained with blood, accompanied by a strong foul smell. She also recalled seeing a man carrying a hoe near the site, though it is unclear whether he was involved.

Police later detained two Russian men at a hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area. They were identified as Iaroslav Demidov, 35, and Dmitrii Maskalev, 38 and were arrested under warrants issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court.

The suspects face multiple charges, including premeditated murder, concealing and destroying a body to hide the cause of death and unlawful detention for ransom involving torture that resulted in death.

Police say that CCTV footage from a village, about one kilometre from the disposition site, shows the two suspects riding a motorcycle with the seat incompletely closed.

Police believe that the dismembered body parts were transported in black bags on the motorcycle. A motorcycle believed to have been used to transport the remains was seized as evidence.

Police also said the suspects had hired two Thai nationals to stage a search for the missing man, in an apparent attempt to mislead authorities. The two Thais are considered key witnesses.

Emelianov had been living in Pattaya for more than two years and was involved in a cannabis-related business in the Jomtien area. He resided in a condominium in South Pattaya before disappearing.

Before he vanished, the victim had reportedly received threatening messages from Russian acquaintances, demanding repayment of a debt of more than US$120,000 (about 3.7 million baht). The threats warned that, if the money was not returned, his organs would be sold, police said.

Yesterday, Emelianov’s mother was invited by investigators to identify the remains. Upon seeing the body and personal effects, she broke down in tears and confirmed that the victim was her son. She was unable to provide further testimony due to distress and returned home.