Thai Woman Sentenced To Death For Cyanide Poisoning 14 Friends For Money

A court in Thailand has handed down the death penalty to a woman accused of fatally poisoning at least a dozen people, the first ruling in a high-profile serial murder case that has gripped the nation. The court has convicted Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn for the murder of 14 individuals over nine years. Her series of cyanide poisonings, which began in 2015, came to light following the recent murder of Siriporn Khanwong. Sararat has been sentenced to death for her crimes.

Pattern of Killings

Sararat, an online gambling addict, swindled money from her victims before poisoning them with cyanide. To fund her addiction, she would borrow as much as 7 lakh rupees from her victims, stealing their jewellery and mobile phones before killing them. In total, she lured 15 individuals, of whom only one survived, by feeding them poison-laced "herb capsules."

Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn reported that it was Sararat’s mounting credit card debt drove her to borrow money from friends. When they asked for repayment, she planned their murders.

Murder of Siriporn Khanwong

Siriporn Khanwong, one of Sararat's victims, was also her friend. In April 2023, the two met near Bangkok for a Buddhist ritual. Shortly after, Siriporn collapsed and passed away. Investigators found traces of cyanide in her body, which eventually uncovered Sararat’s long history of cyanide poisonings.

After the verdict, Siriporn's mother, Tongpin Kiatchanasiri, shared her emotions: "I want to tell my daughter that I miss her deeply, and justice has been done for her today."

The Final Verdict

Sararat has been convicted of 14 murders and nearly 80 other offenses, making her one of the worst killers in Thailand’s history. Her ex-husband, a former police lieutenant-colonel, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, and her former lawyer received a two-year sentence for their roles in concealing evidence in Siriporn's murder.

The nation is in shock after the revelation of her crimes. Another cyanide poisoning case took place earlier this year, where six individuals were killed by laced tea at the Grand Hyatt Bangkok. Sararat’s actions have left an indelible mark on Thailand’s history. 

Cyanide is a fast-acting and highly toxic chemical that can be lethal even in small doses. Working by interfering with the body's ability to use oxygen, it effectively shuts down the cells which leads to rapid organ failure. Cyanide poisoning can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption, making it a common agent in both industrial accidents and deliberate poisonings.

The symptoms of cyanide poisoning are headache, dizziness, rapid breathing, nausea, confusion, seizures, cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, and respiratory failure.