Somkid Pumpuang, the 55-year-old convicted serial killer police say began killing again after winning early release, was arrested at 10:30am this morning in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
A tip from a passenger who recognized Somkid led police to a train station in Pak Chong, where they dragged him off a Bangkok-bound train. Police say he had a knife on him at the time. They were transporting him to Korat where they planned to hold a news conference.
He had evaded arrest since Sunday night when he is believed to have killed a woman found dead in her Khon Kaen home with tape around her neck. Her ankles were tied with a mobile phone charging cable.
Update: Eyebrow scar helped Thai students ID serial killer on train
Somkid had been released from prison in May on a royal pardon after serving 14 years for killing at least five women he met in karaoke cafes and massage parlors in Mukdahan, Lampang, Udon Thani and Buriram provinces.
According to police, he killed his victims in a similar way, having sex with them before strangling or drowning them.
As one of the kingdom’s rare serial killers, he became dubbed “Jack the Ripper” by the media. Somkid was sentenced to life in jail in 2005.
Related:
Thailand’s ‘Jack the Ripper’ killing again after freed on pardon: police
