Police catch serial killer dubbed Thailand's Jack the Ripper
- 4 years ago
This is the moment a Thai serial killer was caught on a train this morning (December 18) after allegedly being released from prison and murdering a sixth victim.
Somkid Pumpuang, 55, was sentenced to life in 2005 for the killing of five women in the country's nightlife industry - drawing comparisons to the infamous Victorian killer who prowled London's East End.
He was deemed an "excellent prisoner" and released in May, the Thai corrections department said in a statement today.
Police began hunting Somkid again after hotel maid Rasmee Mulichan, 51, was found murdered in Khon Kaen, north-eastern Thailand, on Sunday (December 15).
Footage shows how he was captured riding on a train in Korat province on December 18.
The convicted murderer is believed to have targeted his latest alleged victim on Facebook by posing as a lawyer.
He is said to have befriended her online before moving in with her and telling her that he wanted to marry her and even planning a ceremony.
But Rasmee was found dead from suffocation with an electric wire fastened around her neck and her wrists and ankles tied, authorities say.
Rasmee's devastated cousin Laddaporn Arjsak, 28, said her relative had told her that the pair were planning to get married on Sunday.
Laddaporn said: ''My cousin loved him and she told me that they were getting married on Sunday. Instead she is dead. I want the police to find him so we know what happened. If he has killed someone again he should never be allowed out of prison.''
Neighbours allegedly told police that they heard Rasmee calling for help on Sunday morning but when they knocked on the door, Somkid answered and said there was no problem.
He is then believed to have fled through a window at the back of the property before the body was found later when neighbours checked again.
Somkid's fingerprints, clothes and paperwork relating to his car were allegedly found at the scene.
Police chief Chatchawin Srikaeolor said several stations in the area are cooperated in the hunt for the serial killer.
He said: ''We believe that the murder took place on Sunday morning.''
Authorities offered a 50,000 baht (£1,250 or $1,650) reward for information leading to Somkid'scapture.
Thailand's corrections department said it was urgently reviewing the sentence reduction policies but also said it was operating at three times capacity with 370,000 inmates.
Somkid Pumpuang, 55, was sentenced to life in 2005 for the killing of five women in the country's nightlife industry - drawing comparisons to the infamous Victorian killer who prowled London's East End.
He was deemed an "excellent prisoner" and released in May, the Thai corrections department said in a statement today.
Police began hunting Somkid again after hotel maid Rasmee Mulichan, 51, was found murdered in Khon Kaen, north-eastern Thailand, on Sunday (December 15).
Footage shows how he was captured riding on a train in Korat province on December 18.
The convicted murderer is believed to have targeted his latest alleged victim on Facebook by posing as a lawyer.
He is said to have befriended her online before moving in with her and telling her that he wanted to marry her and even planning a ceremony.
But Rasmee was found dead from suffocation with an electric wire fastened around her neck and her wrists and ankles tied, authorities say.
Rasmee's devastated cousin Laddaporn Arjsak, 28, said her relative had told her that the pair were planning to get married on Sunday.
Laddaporn said: ''My cousin loved him and she told me that they were getting married on Sunday. Instead she is dead. I want the police to find him so we know what happened. If he has killed someone again he should never be allowed out of prison.''
Neighbours allegedly told police that they heard Rasmee calling for help on Sunday morning but when they knocked on the door, Somkid answered and said there was no problem.
He is then believed to have fled through a window at the back of the property before the body was found later when neighbours checked again.
Somkid's fingerprints, clothes and paperwork relating to his car were allegedly found at the scene.
Police chief Chatchawin Srikaeolor said several stations in the area are cooperated in the hunt for the serial killer.
He said: ''We believe that the murder took place on Sunday morning.''
Authorities offered a 50,000 baht (£1,250 or $1,650) reward for information leading to Somkid'scapture.
Thailand's corrections department said it was urgently reviewing the sentence reduction policies but also said it was operating at three times capacity with 370,000 inmates.