A Bangkok court sentenced a Thai woman to death after finding her guilty of murdering a friend with poison during a trip. The woman Sararat Rangsiwuthapor, 36, faces accusations of killing 14 of her other friends using a similar poison: cyanide. These Thailand cyanide murders were dated back to 2015.
Investigators revealed that her gambling debts and theft of valuables motivated the killings, with one alleged target surviving the poisoning. Police arrested Sararat after Siriporn Khanwong, 32, collapsed and died during their trip to Ratchaburi province in April 2023.
Authorities said the two women participated in a Buddhist ritual before Siriporn consumed food laced with poison. Experts warn that cyanide, which deprives cells of oxygen, can cause severe harm or death even with small doses. Thai authorities strictly regulate its use, enforcing severe penalties for unlawful possession.
Sararat allegedly stole her friend’s valuables and did nothing to assist her as she died. Police found a similar death linked to Sararat when an autopsy later revealed traces of cyanide in Siriporn’s body. After seeing strange circumstances surrounding the murders, the victim’s relatives pressed for an investigation as they believed foul play was involved.
During the trial, Siriporn’s mother, Thongpin Kiatchanasiri, was relieved that her daughter was able to get justice. Sararat’s former husband, Vitoon Rangsiwuthaporn, an ex-police officer, received a prison sentence for concealing evidence to protect her from prosecution.
Investigators suspect that he assisted Sararat in poisoning her ex-boyfriend, Suthisak Poonkwan. Along with her death sentence, the court ordered Sararat to compensate Siriporn’s family with two million baht. These Thailand cyanide murders highlight the challenges the country faces involving potent toxins.
