Thai Serial Killer Who Poisoned 14 for Gambling Money Gets Death Penalty

A Thai woman thought to be the country’s worst serial killer has been sentenced to death in the first of her 14 murder trials.

Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, 36, is accused of murdering 14 friends and acquaintances by poisoning. Nicknamed “Am Cyanide” by Thai media for her preferred method of dispatching her victims, Sararat is a gambling addict who killed for financial gain, according to prosecutors.

Investigators discovered Sararat had spent 78 million Bhat (US$2.3 million) over three years at an illegal online gambling site called Fun88, sometimes risking as much as 10 million Bhat (US$290K) per day.

Cyanide is a rapidly acting poison that can kill within 30 minutes of ingestion. It starves the body’s cells of oxygen, which can induce heart attacks. Because it leaves the body quickly, it can be difficult to detect.

Denies Charges

On Wednesday, a court in Bangkok convicted Sararat for fatally poisoning her friend, Siriporn Kanwong. The defendant denied the charge and all others against her.

Suspicion first fell on Sararat in April 2023, when she traveled with Siriporn from Bangkok to Thailand’s western province of Ratchaburi to release fish at a pier as part of a Buddhist ritual.

When Siriporn suddenly collapsed and died at the riverbank, Sararat fled the scene rather than join bystanders who tried to help.

Investigators discovered that cash and valuables belonging to Siripon were missing. An autopsy found traces of cyanide in her body, and a search of Sararat’s home uncovered a bottle of the poison.

Sararat, who stands just under five feet tall, was heavily pregnant when she was arrested and later suffered a miscarriage.

After her arrest, other witnesses came forward to say relatives had died in suspicious circumstances shortly after meeting her. Among her alleged victims are an ex-boyfriend and three female police officers.

‘Bad Karma’

Sararat’s husband, Vitoon Rangsiwuthaporn, formerly a high-ranking police officer, was given 16 months in prison for hiding evidence to help her evade prosecution. Her lawyer received a two-year prison sentence for the same offense.

Outside the courtroom on Wednesday, Siriporn’s mother, Thongpin, praised the sentence and claimed that Sararat was smiling as it was read out.

“She got bad karma back, and I wish all the bad karma will keep following her,” she told reporters.