Thai woman, 36, accused of poisoning & killing 14 friends, sentenced to death

A Thai woman addicted to gambling allegedly turned to killing and stealing from her friends and acquaintances.

She has now been sentenced to death in the murder trial of her latest victim.

The woman, Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, 36, is also accused of killing 13 others using cyanide.

On Nov. 20, Sararat was found guilty of the premeditated murder of her friend Siriporn Khanwong, 32, Khaosod English and Nation Thailand reported.

The trials for her other cases are ongoing.

Killed friend

On Apr. 14, 2023, Sararat and Siriporn met up for a merit-making event.

However, Siriporn collapsed and died while doing so, and her belongings, including over 40,000 baht (S$1,550) in cash, were reported missing.

She was the leader of a rotating savings group in Kanchanaburi province, Nation Thailand reported.

A few days later, her family filed a complaint after suspecting foul play in their daughter's death.

Investigations later revealed that Siriporn had been poisoned with cyanide.

On Apr. 25, 2023, police arrested Sararat and seized cyanide from her house.

Authorities suspect she poisoned Siriporn in order to steal from her.

Investigations

Further investigations revealed Sararat’s supposed involvement in at least 14 other cases, with 13 victims dead and one survivor.

Police suspect her killing spree dates back to 2015, motivated by her gambling addiction and crushing debts from both formal and informal lenders.

These victims, connected to Sararat through loans, used car sales, and savings groups, were allegedly poisoned with potassium cyanide.

Sararat is accused of "meticulously planning" the murders, often making the deaths appear to result from heart failure or other natural causes.

Her three primary methods included:

• Taking victims out for a meal, poisoning them with cyanide, and leaving them to die at home.
• Picking victims up from their homes, poisoning them, and abandoning them to die.
• Sending cyanide-laced “diet pills” to victims’ homes.

Accomplices

Sararat faces over 75 charges, including premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery resulting in death, and forging documents.

Two accomplices were also convicted for aiding her.

Sararat’s ex-husband former deputy superintendent of Suan Phueng Police Station Police Lieutenant Colonel Withoon Rangsiwutthaporn, 40, and Lawyer Thannicha Aeksuvanwat, 36, were charged with concealing evidence and helping her evade punishment.

Withoon received one year and four months in prison while Thannicha was sentenced to two years in prison without suspension.

Victim's family

After the verdict, Siriporn’s mother expressed both relief and grief.

“Justice has been served. Rest in peace now. You have nothing to worry about,” she told Thai media.

However, she noted Sararat’s apparent lack of remorse, expressing her anger toward her daughter’s killer.

While Sararat’s sentencing brings closure to Siriporn’s family, trials for her alleged other victims are ongoing.

Top photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP