Police are hunting a man known as "Jack the Ripper of Thailand" who was suspected of killing a woman in Khon Kaen seven months after being released from jail.
Investigators of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) joined Khon Kaen police on the hunt for Somkid Pumpuang, 55. He was the prime suspect in the murder of Rassami Mulichan, 51, at her house in Kranuan district on Sunday.
Rassami was found dead in her house with adhesive tape around her neck and her ankles were tied with a mobile phone charging cable. The case was reported to police on Sunday night.
One of her neighbours told police on Monday he saw a man coming to stay with Rassami on Dec 2 and heard the two quarrel on Sunday.
Police said evidence, including mobile phones found in the house, pointed to Somkid as the alleged killer.
He was a convicted serial killer murdering at least five women — a singer and four masseuses — in 2005 before being arrested in the same year. Somkid was later sentenced to life in prison. Over the years, his jail term was reduced to 14 years and he walked free in May this year.
The victims died in a similar way. He had sex with them and then either strangled or drowned them and took their valuables.
The nickname "Jack the Ripper" references the famous London serial killer of 1888, who was never caught.
