The Am Cyanide case covers fourteen suspected serial murders by cyanide poisoning in Thailand from 2015 and 2023. It is so-called by the media after the nickname of the accused, Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn (), and her modus operandi.
Investigation The poisonings began in 2015, but the case gained public attention in April 2023 following the death of Siriporn Khanwong, a friend of Sararat's. Sararat and Siriporn had gone to a river in Ratchaburi province to take part in a Buddhist protection ritual together, after which Siriporn fainted and died on the riverbank. Following this, Sararat was arrested on 20 April and was denied bail. In the aftermath, families of previous victims, almost all of whom had personal connections to Sararat but whose deaths had been ruled to be of natural causes, came forward with their suspicions.
The investigation linked Sararat to fourteen suspected murders and one non-fatal poisoning. Police said the victims were friends and acquaintances from whom she had borrowed or stolen money, or whose possessions she intended to take. She was alleged to have used cyanide to poison her victims between 2015 and 2023, and investigators stated that she appeared to be motivated by an online gambling addiction. Authorities estimated that she had obtained more than THB 5,000,000 (€130,000) from the victims before poisoning them.
Victims + Suspected murder victims Name Age Death LocationVerdictSiriporn "Koy" Khanwong3214 April 2023RatchaburideathPolicewoman Major Nipa "Inspector Poo" Saenchan 1 April 2023 Nakhon PathomLifeศาลพิพากษาประหาร "แอม ไซยาไนด์" วางสารพิษใส่อาหาร-เครื่องดื่ม "สารวัตรปู" คำให้การเป็นประโยชน์เหลือจำคุกตลอดชีวิตเปิดคำพิพากษา ศาลอาญา สั่งประหาร แอม ไซยาไนด์ คดีวางยาฆ่าสารวัตรปูSutthisak "Dae" Phoonkhwan (ex-boyfriend)35 Rosjarin "Jae Noi Phak" Nilhoi 10 August 2022 Samut SakhonSurat Toraphap 2021 KanchanaburiKanika Tuaecharat 2021 RatchaburiChantharat Wongkraisin Deathศาลตัดสินประหาร “แอม ไซยาไนด์” คดีที่ 8 ลวงฆ่า “จุ๋ม จันทรรัตน์” ล้างหนี้เงินกู้Policewoman Captain Kanda Torai Maneerat "Khu Tai" (Teacher Tai) Pojanat Nittaya Kaewbuppa Pusadee "Khru Ood" Samboonmee Sutthisak "Dae" Phoonkhwan Darinee "Fa" Thepthawee December 2020 Nakhon PathomSawittree "Nim" Budsrirak41 2020 MukdahanMonthathip "Sai" Khao-in372016Thong Lor area of BangkokDismissศาลยกฟ้อง "แอม สรารัตน์" คดีวางยาฆ่า "มณฑาทิพย์" ชี้หลักฐานไม่เพียงพอKantima Paesa-ardattempted murderKanchanaburi Trial Date Scheduled on November 25, 2026
Trials The police forwarded over 80 charges against Sararat to the public prosecutor on 30 June. They included premeditated murder, attempted murder, theft causing death, and forgery. The case was instituted on 18 July 2023, and Sararat's ex-husband, Police Lieutenant Colonel Withoon Rangsiwuthaporn, and her lawyer Thanicha Aeksuwannawat were also accused of helping Sararat conceal evidence. The trial's first taking-of-evidence session took place on 4 July 2024.
In November 2024, Sararat was found guilty of murdering Siriporn Khanwong in the first of 14 trials, and sentenced to death. Meanwhile, her husband was sentenced to 16 months in prison for hiding evidence and helping Sararat evade arrest.
In February 2026, Sararat sentenced to life imprisonment for the April 2023 murder of Police Major Nipa Saenchan.
See also
List of serial killers by number of victims 2024 Bangkok hotel cyanide poisoning
References