The Iron Chest Murders: Nang Prik, Nai Lom, and Boonpeng Heep Lek | Revisited

Before Boonpeng Heep Lek became a legend, there was a woman Bangkok did not yet know by name.In 1918, an iron chest surfaced in the Chao Phraya near Nonthaburi. Inside was the body of Nang Prik, a woman whose mother was already searching for her after a letter drew Prik away from home. This fully revisited Shadows of Siam episode follows the verified record behind the Iron Chest Murders: Nang Prik, Nai Lom, the former monk who used trust, ritual, and reputation as cover, and the court case that ended with one of Siam’s most infamous executions.This is not just the story of Thailand’s so-called first serial killer. It is the story of two confirmed victims, a mother whose name history did not preserve, and a crime that became larger in folklore than in the record. We separate the known case from later claims about seven victims, black magic, failed sword strokes, and the shrine that helped turn Boonpeng into legend.Listener discretion is advised. This episode discusses murder, exploitation, pregnancy, the discovery of human remains, public execution, and unverified folklore.Sources:Bangkok Daily Mail Identification Notice, January 14, 1918: archival clipping used in episode research; no public URL available.The “Steel Trunk” Cases court reporting clipping: archival newspaper clipping used in episode research; no public URL available.Royal Thai Government Gazette, correction naming Khun Sitthikhadi as Plang ThewanitSilpa-Mag, ทำเสน่ห์ ร่ายมนต์ ร่วมรักและรีดไถ (บุญเพ็ง หีบเหล็ก 2)Silpa-Mag, เปิดตำนาน “นายบุญเพ็ง หีบเหล็ก” ฆาตกรมนต์ดำ ฆ่าหั่นศพ 7 รายติดMGR Online, ตามรอยละคร “บุญเพ็ง” พิศวาสฆาตกรรม!?MGR Online, ฆาตกรรมเขย่าขวัญแห่งยุค! พระทำเสน่ห์เกิดลุ่มหลงการพนันKapook, บุญเพ็ง หีบเหล็ก ประวัติฆาตกรสุดโหด พระนอกรีตฆ่าสีกายัดหีบExpique, Boonpeng Heep Lek, The First Serial Killer in Thailandคดีอาถรรพ์, Bunchai Jaiyen sample PDFSihawatchara historical blog, ปัดฝุ่นเรื่องเก่าไทย ๒..บุญเพ็งหีบเหล็ก: source text used in episode research; public URL not verified.#ShadowsOfSiam #ThailandTrueCrime #BoonpengHeepLek #IronChestMurders #BangkokHistory