Charles Sobhraj is a notorious criminal who was known as the "Bikini Killer" or "Serpent" due to his heinous crimes. He is a French national of Vietnamese and Indian origin, and his criminal activities spanned several countries, including Thailand, Nepal, and India. Sobhraj's life of crime was marked by cunning and manipulation, which made him one of the most dangerous criminals of his time. In this blog post, we will delve into the life and crimes of Charles Sobhraj.

Early Life of Charles Sobhraj

Charles Sobhraj was born on April 6, 1944, in Saigon, Vietnam, to a Vietnamese mother and an Indian father. He spent his early childhood in Vietnam before his family moved to France when he was a teenager. Sobhraj had a troubled childhood, and his parents separated when he was young. His father abandoned the family, and his mother struggled to raise him alone, leading to a turbulent home life.

Sobhraj's criminal career began at an early age. He was arrested for burglary when he was just 19 and served time in prison. After his release, he left France and began traveling extensively, living a life of luxury by conning wealthy travelers and tourists.

Criminal Activities

Sobhraj's criminal activities gained notoriety in the 1970s when he began a killing spree in Southeast Asia. He would prey on young, backpacking tourists, befriending them before robbing and murdering them. Sobhraj would use his charm and good looks to lure his victims into his web, gaining their trust before leading them to their deaths.

Sobhraj's first known murder was in 1975 when he killed a young Dutch tourist named Henk Bintanja in Thailand. He poisoned Bintanja and his girlfriend, Cornelia Hemker, with opium-laced drinks before drowning Bintanja in a bathtub. Hemker survived but was unable to remember what had happened.

Sobhraj's next known murder was in 1976 when he killed two French students, Laurent Carrière and Connie Jo Bronzich, in Nepal. Sobhraj drugged them with sleeping pills, then strangled them before burning their bodies.

Sobhraj was also suspected of several other murders and disappearances during this time, including the killing of two Americans, Teresa Knowlton and Vitali Hakim, in Thailand in 1975.

Arrest and Imprisonment

Sobhraj's luck ran out in 1976 when he was arrested in India for drugging a group of French tourists. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison but managed to escape by drugging the guards. He was recaptured and sent to prison again, where he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Sobhraj's legal team managed to get his sentence commuted to life imprisonment in 1986, and he was transferred to a prison in Nepal. He continued to make headlines while in prison, with reports of him living a lavish lifestyle behind bars, bribing guards, and even hosting parties for fellow inmates.

Release and Later Life

Sobhraj was released from prison in Nepal in 1997 due to a lack of evidence in one of the murder cases against him. He was immediately deported to France, where he was arrested for a string of robberies committed in the 1970s.

Sobhraj was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Laurent Carrière in 2004, but he has continued to maintain his innocence. He is currently serving his sentence in a prison in France.

Conclusion

Charles Sobhraj's life of crime and manipulation made him one of the most notorious criminals of the 20th century. His ability to charm and manipulate his victims, as well as those around him, allowed him to evade capture for many years. Sobhraj's heinous crimes and lack of remorse have left a lasting impact on the families of his victims and the communities he terrorized.

Sobhraj's story has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films. In 2018, a Netflix series called "The Serpent" was released, which depicted Sobhraj's crimes and eventual capture. The show sparked renewed interest in Sobhraj's story and the international manhunt that led to his arrest.

Overall, the life and crimes of Charles Sobhraj serve as a reminder of the dangers of manipulation and the devastating consequences of unchecked criminal behavior. His legacy will forever be marked by his cold-blooded killings and the trauma he inflicted upon his victims and their families.