Woman who faked her own death to avoid the death penalty found alive and well

A 72 year old woman, who was sentenced to death for the contract killing of her son’s fiancé eight years ago has handed herself into the Crime Suppression Division after faking her own death to avoid her sentence.

Juree Jan-ngam faked her death two years ago after hiring somebody to kill Riewprae Chotikarn, who was three months pregnant with Juree’s grandson at the time. Riewprae was set to marry son Wikrom Jan-Ngan, Juree disapproved of the match and Riewprae was taken out at a clinic, her assistant was also cut down in the gunfire.

Juree was convinced of the murders in 2010, the verdict was upheld on appeal in 2011. While awaiting appeal to the Supreme Court Juree was released on a five million baht bail bond, in February 2014 her daughter told the court her mother had died and presented a death certificate in order to have the bail money refunded.

However the victim’s mother did not believe the story and pushed for further investigation, witnesses said there had been no funeral held for the woman who had been seen from time to time. Investigators initially focused their search in Chumphon province where the woman was said to have died, and Songkhla province where she had a business. As the task force closed in the woman turned herself in.

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