Thai Woman Sentenced to Death in Cyanide Serial Murders That Shocked the Nation

A Thai court has sentenced Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn to death for premeditated murder and other charges in a high-profile case that has captivated the nation. The court found Sararat guilty of fatally poisoning her friend, Siriporn Khanwong, by lacing her food with cyanide. After the murder, she stole property worth over $4,400 from the victim, as detailed in the Bangkok court’s judgment.

The case has drawn significant attention due to Sararat’s connection to her ex-husband, a former senior police officer, and the revelation that she was pregnant at the time of her arrest in May 2023. Siriporn’s death triggered a broader investigation into a series of similar poisonings. Authorities linked Sararat to multiple deaths, noting a pattern of victims falling ill or dying after consuming food or drinks shared with her.

An autopsy of Siriporn revealed cyanide poisoning as the cause of death, corroborated by CCTV footage showing the two women together shortly before Siriporn collapsed. Another woman came forward after Sararat’s arrest, alleging she had survived a cyanide poisoning incident in 2020 but had been too afraid to report it due to Sararat’s influential connections.

In addition to her death sentence, the court ordered Sararat to pay compensation for the stolen items. Her lawyer, Thanicha Eksuwanwat, and ex-husband, Witoon Rangsiwuthaporn, were also implicated. Thanicha was sentenced to two years for attempting to conceal evidence, while Witoon received one year and four months for his involvement. Both were granted bail pending appeal.

Sararat denies the charges and plans to appeal her conviction. Meanwhile, Thailand’s national police are preparing to file additional murder cases against her. Despite the country’s rare use of capital punishment—last enforced in 2018—death sentences have been issued in recent years for severe crimes, reflecting the seriousness of this case.