LOPBURI – Rescue teams in Lopburi province have located what is believed to be an ankle while searching for the body of a second retired teacher allegedly murdered and dumped in a disused artesian well. The discovery, made at 12:30 p.m. on January 17, 2026, has intensified the painstaking recovery operation amid hazardous conditions, local media reported.

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The case involves two retired sisters, 61-year-old Jiraporn Phuangmalai and 64-year-old Panomporn Phuangmalai, who police say were killed by their 28-year-old nephew, Kittik, before their bodies were thrown into the well on a relative’s property in Phatthana Nikhom district.

On January 15, rescuers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation recovered the body of Panomporn, found floating in the well. The suspect later confessed that Jiraporn’s body remained at the bottom of the 18-meter-deep, narrow well, which had been filled with nearly four cubic meters of crushed stone to conceal the remains.

Rescue efforts have required specialized high-angle equipment, including ropes, cranes, and breathing apparatus. About 30 rescue workers have been rotating shifts, each limited to no more than 20 minutes inside due to limited oxygen and decomposition gases.

Search operations began on January 16 and have continued for three days, gradually removing the stone fill. The Ruamkatanyu Foundation confirmed via social media that on the third day, rescuers detected an ankle under the remaining rubble, accompanied by a strong odor and bubbling sounds.

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Police, led by Pol Lt Col Rattapong Nittayorawiwan, remain confident the second body will be recovered if present as described. The operation continues under close supervision with strict safety measures in place.

-Thailand News (TN)