PRETTY POISON: Suspected cyanide serial killer facing 14 murder charges
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A pregnant woman in Thailand faces a slew of charges in connection with the poisoning deaths of more than a dozen people.
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was arrested last week for the alleged murder of Siriporn Khanwong, a wealthy friend who died while the two were on a trip, BBC News reported.
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However, the suspected serial killer case has gripped the country for three years, when the first murders allegedly began in 2020.
In the potentially-linked cases, all the victims allegedly ate or drank with Sararat in the time leading up to their deaths.
All 14 of the deceased – as well as one survivor – were poisoned with cyanide, deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn alleged at a press conference Wednesday.
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Sararat denied the accusations, but cops allegedly found a bottle of cyanide in her home when she was taken into custody.
Police are also investigating Sararat’s partner Witoon Rangsiwuthaporn, a senior police official who held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel until he was fired, and with whom she is expecting a child.
He also faces charges of fraud and embezzlement related to the alleged murders, Hakparn confirmed.
Sararat’s sister, who owns a pharmacy, is also part of the probe, the BBC reported.
Police believe the motive for the killings was money, with the alleged victims purportedly lending Sararat money prior to their deaths.
“She asked people she knows for money because she has a lot of credit card debt … and if they asked her for their money back she started killing them,” Hakparn alleged.
The lone survivor was a friend who police believe was targeted.
The woman loaned Sararat 250,000 baht (about $10,000). Then after the two had lunch, the alleged victim vomited and fainted – but survived.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities probe the accused woman’s debts and financial transactions.
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