Two Russian siblings, Diana Nazimova, 22, and her brother Roman Nazimov, 17, have been found dead in Thailand's Chon Buri province, days after they went missing. Police arrested two men, identified as Thana Kerdthong, 43, and Thongchai Srinil, 39, who reportedly confessed to the murders.
The siblings were last seen on July 26, leaving their home in Pattaya on a motorbike to go to a local convenience store. They never returned, prompting their mother, Zarina, to report them missing. The family had been living in Pattaya since 2021.
Three days after their disappearance, investigators found the siblings' Honda ADV 150 motorbike disassembled and buried in the grounds of an old cemetery. A manhunt led to the arrest of Kerdthong and Srinil in Sa Kaeo province.
Authorities allege that the suspects posed as police officers to stop the siblings, with the intention of stealing their motorbike. Srinil told police that Kerdthong shot Roman twice, once in the abdomen and once in the head. Kerdthong reportedly admitted to shooting Roman and fatally beating Diana, stating she fought back. The motive for the crime was reportedly to steal the motorbike.
Kerdthong, who has a history of violence and was recently released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence for attempted murder, allegedly threatened Srinil to help bury the bodies. Srinil claimed he was under the influence of drugs and felt compelled to comply.
Investigators found the siblings' bodies buried about a meter deep in a remote area in Chon Buri. Diana's body showed signs of assault, and police stated there was no evidence of sexual assault. Roman sustained two gunshot wounds.
In a disturbing development, the arrested men also reportedly confessed to the murder of a Thai family – parents Wichian and Chantana, and their 18-year-old daughter Nichapha – whose bodies were found bound and shot in a coconut grove approximately 2 kilometers from where the Russian siblings were discovered. The suspects allegedly impersonated police officers to gain entry to the family's home.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described the alleged acts as "brutally cruel," stating that such crimes damage the trust Thailand is trying to build with the international community. The mother of the Nazimov siblings expressed gratitude for the support received and stated that long prison sentences would be a greater punishment than the death penalty for the perpetrators.