Inside Thailand’s cyanide murders and the search for its ‘most prolific serial killer’ in history
When healthy people suddenly began dying, grieving families struggled to get answers. The series, Death Loans, retraces how a dogged investigator looking into a friend’s death helped police connect 15 cases to one woman eventually.
In Thailand, a series of cyanide-related deaths has left authorities baffled and a woman named Aem Cyanide as the prime suspect. This string of murders spans multiple provinces and began as early as 2015, with the latest case involving a woman who was also present during one of the incidents. The victims were mostly in their 30s and appeared to be in good health prior to their deaths. These cases have been dubbed the "cyano murders."
Aem Cyanide has been identified as the individual responsible for these deaths, according to Surachate Hakparn, the deputy police chief from 2022 to 2024. He went on to claim that she has killed more people than notorious serial killers Jack the Ripper, the Zodiac, and BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill). Only BTK has ever been caught, thus making Aem the "most prolific serial killer in Thai history."
One of the victims, Sawitree "Nim" Budsrirak, had recently given birth to a baby girl when she began experiencing difficulties with her breathing. Her husband noticed that she was unable to breathe despite trying to take deep breaths and using the car's air conditioner. She ultimately passed away, her body showing signs of cyanide poisoning.
Another victim, Surat "Bee" Toraphap, had a history of friendship with Aem that dated back to their school days. Bee's brother reported that Bee had been poisoned with cyanide while at a temple in Kanchanaburi's Tha Maka district.
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