CHON BURI: An extensive search of a coconut plantation in Bang Lamung district linked to the high-profile murder of two Russian siblings and a Thai family of three has turned up no additional bodies, according to police.
Officials on Thursday finished examining seven suspected locations at the site in tambon Huay Yai, near where the bodies of a Thai father, mother and daughter were recently discovered.
The operation involved geophysics specialists from Silpakorn University who deployed three ground-penetrating radar (GPR) devices to scan the seven spots. Officials later used a small excavator to dig up the patches, with each excavation reaching a depth of about two metres.
The search turned up no bodies or human skeletal remains, said Pol Lt Gen Chatchai Surachetphong, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2.
The GPR devices, commonly used in archaeological surveys, were employed to improve the accuracy of the search, which was seeking any additional evidence in the murder cases.
Pol Lt Gen Chatchai said there were currently no plans for further excavation in the area where the family was found unless new information emerged.
Investigators also indicated there are no immediate plans to conduct further digging in the vicinity of where the Russian siblings were unearthed. Authorities stated any decision to resume digging would depend on new leads, soil conditions and expert assessments.
The latest search was part of ongoing investigations into the murders of five people allegedly linked to suspect Thana "Pong" Kerdthong, one of four suspects arrested in connection with the bodies.
During a crime reenactment last Friday, Thana led police to an area about 300-400 metres from the grave of the Russian victims and close to the burial site of the Thai family. The suspect appeared hesitant and repeatedly changed the location he identified, raising doubts about the accuracy of his account.
Police then decided to use the ground-scanning technology and expert assistance to ensure no additional bodies or concealed evidence had been overlooked.
