A Thai woman who was arrested on suspicion of murdering her friend with cyanide has now been charged with at least 13 counts of premeditated murder, police in Thailand have confirmed. Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was arrested last week for allegedly killing Siriporn Kanwong, but police have now requested arrest warrants in 14 cases of alleged murder involving Sararat, with 13 approved by the court so far and one still pending. All the victims ate or drank with Sararat in the run-up to their deaths. All 14 of the deceased, as well as one survivor, were poisoned with cyanide.
Sararat, who is pregnant, has denied the accusations and is currently in custody. Police are also investigating her partner, Witoon Rangsiwuthaporn, a senior police official who held the rank of Lt. Colonel. Witoon has been fired from his job as a local deputy police chief and is facing charges of fraud and embezzlement related to the alleged murders.
Serial murders are relatively rare in Thailand, and the investigation into so many murders has transfixed the country. Police believe the killings may have had a financial motive, with victims allegedly lending Sararat money in the run-up to their deaths. Consumer debt is a massive problem in Thailand, accounting for nearly 90% of the country's GDP as of 2022, according to the Bank of Thailand.