Published on: November 21, 2024, 10:10h.
Last updated on: November 21, 2024, 10:27h.
A woman from Thailand believed to be the most notorious serial killer in the country has been sentenced to death in the initial of her 14 murder cases.
Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, 36, is accused of murdering 14 friends and acquaintances by poisoning. Known as “Am Cyanide” by Thai media for her chosen method of eliminating her victims, Sararat is a gambler who committed these crimes for monetary benefits, according to prosecutors.
Authorities found that Sararat had spent 78 million Bhat (US$2.3 million) within three years at an illegal online gambling platform called Fun88, sometimes risking as much as 10 million Bhat (US$290K) per day.
Sararat financed her gambling habit by borrowing money from her victims before killing them and taking their belongings, as per prosecutors. One person she allegedly targeted managed to survive.
Cyanide is a fast-acting poison that can cause death within 30 minutes of ingestion. It deprives the body’s cells of oxygen, potentially leading to heart attacks. Due to its quick elimination from the body, cyanide can be challenging to detect.
Refutes Allegations
On Wednesday, a court in Bangkok found Sararat guilty of poisoning her friend, Siriporn Kanwong, leading to her demise. The accused denied this charge and all other accusations against her.
Suspicions arose about Sararat in April 2023, when she traveled with Siriporn from Bangkok to Ratchaburi, a western province in Thailand, to release fish at a pier during a Buddhist ceremony.
When Siriporn suddenly collapsed and passed away at the riverbank, Sararat fled the scene instead of assisting bystanders who tried to help.
An examination revealed cash and valuables belonging to Siriporn were missing. Traces of cyanide were discovered in her body during an autopsy, and a bottle of the poison was found during a search of Sararat’s residence.
Sararat, who is under five feet tall, was pregnant at the time of her arrest and later experienced a miscarriage.
Following her arrest, other individuals came forward to state that their family members died under suspicious circumstances shortly after meeting Sararat. Among her alleged victims are a former partner and three female law enforcement officers.
‘Negative Karma’
Sararat’s spouse, Vitoon Rangsiwuthaporn, previously a senior police officer, received a 16-month prison sentence for concealing evidence to aid her in avoiding prosecution. Her attorney was sentenced to two years in prison for the same offense.
Outside the courtroom on Wednesday, Siriporn’s mother, Thongpin, commended the verdict and mentioned that Sararat appeared to be smiling during the sentencing.
“She received negative karma, and I hope all the negative karma continues to follow her,” she told reporters.