Charles Sobhraj: From ‘Bikini Killer’ to Free Man in France

PARIS, France — Charles Sobhraj, the infamous serial killer known as “The Serpent” and the “Bikini Killer,” now roams free in France after decades of evading justice across Asia and Europe. His life of crime, marked by manipulation, murder, and daring escapes, has captivated global audiences and inspired books, documentaries, and Netflix‘s latest drama series.

Born in 1944 in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Sobhraj’s early life was marked by abandonment and discrimination. His mixed-race heritage and troubled upbringing led him to petty crimes, which escalated into a global spree of theft, fraud, and murder. By the 1970s, Sobhraj had become a master manipulator, preying on young backpackers along the “Hippie Trail” in South Asia.

One of his most notorious crimes occurred in Bangkok, where he posed as a gem dealer named Alaian Gautier. Dutch backpackers Henk Bintanja and Cornelia Hemker fell victim to his charm, only to be found strangled and burned days later. Sobhraj vanished before authorities could apprehend him, leaving a trail of victims across Thailand, Nepal, and India.

In 1975, Sobhraj returned to India, where he met Marie-Andrée Leclerc, his second wife, and Ajay Chowdhury, his accomplice. The trio embarked on a murderous rampage, targeting tourists and stealing their identities. Sobhraj’s victims, often found strangled or burned, earned him the moniker “Bikini Killer” after several bodies were discovered clad in swimwear.

His criminal career took a dramatic turn in 1976 when he was arrested in Delhi after drugging a group of French tourists. Imprisoned in Tihar Jail, Sobhraj lived in relative comfort, bribing guards and even orchestrating a daring escape in 1986 by drugging jail staff during a fake birthday celebration. He was recaptured but eventually released in 1997, returning to France.

In 2003, Sobhraj inexplicably returned to Nepal, where he was arrested and convicted for the 1975 murders of Laurent Carrière and Connie Jo Bronzich. He spent nearly two decades in a Nepalese prison before being released in December 2022 due to his advanced age and declining health.

Today, Sobhraj lives freely in France, his story a chilling reminder of a life steeped in crime and manipulation. While he denies responsibility for many of the murders attributed to him, the true extent of his crimes may never be fully known.