A woman in Thailand has been arrested on suspicion of killing 12 of her acquaintances and friends by poisoning them with cyanide.
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was arrested in Bangkok on Tuesday 25th April 2023, following an investigation into the death of a friend. The family of the victim had raised suspicions after the victim died on a trip with Sararat earlier this month.
Police stated that they believe Sararat had killed 11 others, including an ex-boyfriend, for financial reasons. However, Sararat has denied all charges.
Thai authorities have denied her bail.
Two weeks prior to being arrested, Sararat had travelled with her friend to Ratchaburi province, west of Bangkok, where they had participated in a Buddhist protection ritual at a river.
Shortly after, her friend Siriporn Khanwong collapsed and died on the riverbank. Traces of cyanide were found in her body during the autopsy, and her phone, money, and bags were missing.
Authorities have stated that the other victims died in a similar way, but did not disclose further information. The murders began in 2020, they said.
Sararat knew all of the victims, and she may have been motivated by financial reasons, according to the police.
One friend who police believe was targeted had loaned her 250,000 baht (£5,900; $7,300), and the woman had vomited and fainted after having lunch with Sararat but survived.
Police also said that relatives of victims had reported missing jewellery and cash.
However, at the time, families of victims had not suspected foul play, and some bodies had been cremated, making evidence gathering a challenge, officers said.
Among the dead were Sararat’s former partner and two female police officers.
Thai police have also questioned Sararat’s partner, a senior police officer in Ratchaburi province, where her friend died. The pair had recently split, according to Thai media reports.
