PHATTAYA, THAILAND – The wife of a man wanted in the disappearance of two Russian siblings has broken her silence and begged him to hand himself in. The search enters day five with no sign of Diana, 22, or Roman Nazimova, 17.
Police have arrest warrants for Thana Kerdthong, 43, and Thongchai Srinil, 39, on charges of joint nighttime theft using a vehicle and receiving stolen goods. The suspects remain on the run after their alleged getaway drivers were arrested Thursday.
Wife breaks silence
Suphraewrat, 34, known as Som, told journalists she has lived with Thongchai for about a year. Her husband met Thana shortly before the siblings vanished, through a drug scene where both used methamphetamine and crystal meth.
You won’t get away
said Suphraewrat, wife of Thongchai.
She described Thana as acting like a mentally ill person. According to her, Thana tried to sexually force himself on her in the bedroom soon after his release from prison. Her husband intervened in time. She believes Thongchai first tried to protect the siblings but later got dragged into the crime under pressure.
One hundred baht and a goodbye
Suphraewrat last saw Thongchai in the early morning of July 27. He brought her 100 Baht in cash and then vanished. She is convinced he cannot escape forever and publicly urged him to surrender.
I am sure that fleeing will not succeed in the long run
said Suphraewrat.
Witness spots suspect near burial site
A local who goes by the pseudonym Kon told reporters he regularly fished with Thongchai. On July 28 or 29 he saw him on a red Honda Wave near where the siblings’ dismantled motorcycle was later dug up.
Kon believes Thongchai was a pressured follower, not a willing perpetrator. He pointed out that Thana carried a weapon.
Dashcam nails timeline
A resident’s dashcam footage shows both suspects at 6:05 am on July 29 leaving Soi Thung Luang on separate motorcycles. One bike is the red Honda Wave described by Kon. The recording location is less than 100 metres from where police later unearthed the buried motorcycle.
At 6:07 am both men ride back in the same direction. Officers found the bike just hours later.
Aunt expects a shootout
Thana’s 74-year-old aunt, who lives near where the motorcycle was buried, says her nephew visited her the day after the siblings vanished. He offered to fix an electrical fault but quickly stopped, claiming he was heading to Chanthaburi province to see his wife and child. That turned out to be false.
I am mentally prepared that my nephew’s arrest could end in a shootout
said Thana’s aunt.
Russian volunteers join the hunt
A group of Russian volunteers led by Svetlana Sherstoboeva is now helping search for the siblings. Sherstoboeva confirmed to Russian news agency RIA Novosti that they are cooperating with investigators.
Huai Yai police station continues to appeal around the clock for any information on the siblings’ whereabouts or the two wanted men.