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Thai Serial Killer Sentenced to Death Again for Murders Linked to Gambling Debt

By jili tutorial · August 31, 2026

Thai Serial Killer Sentenced to Death Again for Murders Linked to Gambling Debt

Overview: “Am Cyanide” Receives Second Death Sentence

Thailand’s Criminal Court has handed down a second death sentence to Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, widely known as “Am Cyanide,” for fatally poisoning a creditor in Nakhon Pathom province in December 2020. Prosecutors described the 39-year-old as a gambling addict who killed 14 people and attempted to poison another, all for financial gain.

The Crime: How the Poisoning Unfolded

Prosecutors told the court that Sararat mixed potassium cyanide into food and served it to 34-year-old Darinee Thepthawee. Court documents reveal that Sararat had borrowed 60,000 Thai baht (approximately $1,850) from Darinee and convinced her to join three informal savings schemes promising combined returns of around 200,000 baht ($6,150).

In December 2020, Sararat lured Darinee to a local market, where prosecutors allege she served her food laced with potassium cyanide. After returning home, Darinee told her husband she felt unwell. She then suffered convulsions, muscle rigidity, began foaming at the mouth, and eventually lost consciousness. An autopsy by toxicology and forensic specialists at Siriraj Hospital concluded that Darinee died from multiple organ failure.

The Investigation: Uncovering a String of Killings

Arrest and Initial Suspicion

Sararat was arrested in Bangkok on April 25, 2023, after the family of a previous alleged victim, 32-year-old Siriporn Kanwong, grew suspicious about her sudden death. Siriporn collapsed and died on the banks of the Mae Klong River in Ratchaburi on April 14, shortly after accompanying Sararat to release fish during a Buddhist merit-making ritual. Forensic tests later detected cyanide in Siriporn’s body, leading investigators to suspect that Sararat had poisoned her before taking her belongings. Police confirmed that Sararat was carrying a bottle of cyanide when arrested.

Police began investigating other individuals who had died suddenly after spending time with Sararat. Investigators discovered that many victims had financial ties to her, including loans, car transactions, and participation in informal savings schemes. The killing spree shocked the nation and prompted heightened scrutiny of controls on toxic chemicals.

Authorities determined that 15 people had been poisoned across seven provinces between 2015 and Sararat’s arrest in 2023, with only one survivor. Investigators noted that victims had been with Sararat just hours before their deaths. Among her alleged victims are an ex-boyfriend and three female police officers.

During the investigation, authorities found that Sararat had spent 78 million Thai baht (about $2.3 million) over three years gambling on the illegal online platform Fun88, at times placing bets of up to 10 million baht (around $290,000) in a single day.

Court Rulings and Broader Impact

The Latest Verdict

The newest ruling marked the seventh judgment in the 15 cases brought against Sararat. Aside from her two death sentences, the court also gave her two life sentences and acquitted her in three cases.

National Context: Crackdown on Illegal Gambling

In related news, Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society blocked nearly 14,000 illegal betting websites during the FIFA World Cup as part of the country’s stricter stance on gambling.