Scammed to Death: Con Artist & Impostor Charles Sobhraj Pt. 2
Podcast: Scams, Money, & Murder
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson, Carter Roy, with Dr. Tristan Engels
Release Date: October 16, 2025
Episode Overview
The second part of the Charles Sobhraj series delves into the most notorious crimes of the “Bikini Killer,” exploring how a chameleon-like con artist manipulated, poisoned, and murdered Western tourists across Asia in the 1970s. Through interviews and psychological analysis, hosts Vanessa and Carter—along with criminal psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels—unpack the motivations behind Sobhraj's violence, the complex psychology of his victims and accomplices, and how a web of missed warnings, trauma bonds, and international jurisdiction failures enabled Sobhraj’s reign of terror. The episode weaves survivor testimonies, chilling psychology, and dogged diplomatic detective work, tracing how Sobhraj built and ultimately unraveled his own myth.
Key Discussion Points & Timeline
1. The Scene at Canet House: Sobhraj’s Operations in Bangkok
[04:42 – 07:52]
- Sobhraj’s Tactics: Charles lures Western travelers to his Bangkok apartment, charms and drugs them, and steals valuables; for some, the encounter becomes deadly.
- Victims: Early on, tourists like Teresa Knowlton (21, American), and Vitaly Hakim (Turkish) are killed—both, according to Sobhraj, linked to drug smuggling. Their true stories, however, remain unclear.
- Red Flags: Neighbor Nadine Gires grows suspicious but is paralyzed by uncertainty—the classic cognitive dissonance experienced when proximity to evil doesn’t match everyday realities.
- Quote [06:29], Dr. Engels: “Suspicion without proof creates cognitive dissonance… acknowledging the truth would be deeply uncomfortable. In this case, it would mean possibly implicating themselves by proximity.”
2. Disappearance, Escalation, and Accomplice Psychology
[07:52 – 13:27]
- More Victims: After killing Hakim, Sobhraj targets Hakim’s girlfriend, Stephanie Perry, using similar drug-and-strangle tactics.
- Ajay Chowdhury’s Recruitment: Sobhraj’s loyal lieutenant transitions from helping with theft to participating in murders, shaped by gradual loyalty-building and normalization of violence.
- Quote [10:07], Dr. Engels: “He may have framed violence as necessary… When those (smaller loyalty tests) are successful, the stakes gradually rise.”
3. The Plight of Dominique Renelleau & Psychological Captivity
[13:27 – 16:06]
- Entrapped Victims: Dutch couple Hank Bintania and Cocky Hemker become Sobhraj’s guests, then his victims—poisoned and burned.
- The "Trauma Bond": French backpacker Dominique, drugged for months, watches others fall ill and is trapped psychologically and physically.
- Quote [13:27], Dr. Engels: “When someone is trapped... they can develop a trauma bond… alternating kindness with cruelty… It creates just enough hope to stay put and just enough fear to stop from running.”
4. Narrow Escapes and Breakthroughs
[16:06 – 22:41]
- The Unraveling: As multiple bodies are discovered, Dominique escapes and, with Nadine, uncovers a trove of evidence (handcuffs, passports, personal belongings of victims).
- Authorities Alerted: Dominique flees to Paris and reports to Interpol; Nadine spreads word through diplomatic channels, catalyzing the investigation.
5. Inside the Mind of Sobhraj: Motivation, Identity, and Desensitization
[22:41 – 25:04]
- Instrumental Violence: Sobhraj’s violence is pragmatic, not driven by sexual compulsion or rage. Each murder maintains his image of superiority and control.
- Quote [22:41], Dr. Engels: “He was killing because it worked… being successful in deceiving others into believing he was sophisticated and trustworthy.”
- Desensitization: Over time, murder becomes just another tool for Sobhraj—a sign not of losing control but of gaining it.
6. International Pursuit: The Net Closes
[25:04 – 33:21]
- Manhunt Intensifies: After the Dutch couple’s families press diplomats to search for them, evidence is systematically gathered. Nadine and Dominique’s efforts reach a Dutch diplomat, Hermann Knippenberg, leading to confirmation of the murders.
- Police Blunders: Despite raids and identification, Sobhraj repeatedly wriggles free, using forged identities and exploiting authorities’ unfamiliarity with international fugitives.
- Quote [30:36], Dr. Engels: “It wasn’t just luck. It was his skill. He knew how to read people, how to perform, and how to manipulate perception, even when he was detained.”
7. Extradition Drama and Sobhraj’s Legendary Escape
[33:21 – 44:16]
- Legal Loopholes: Arrested in India, Sobhraj receives a 12-year sentence for poisoning crimes—but statutes of limitations in Thailand mean that by extending his sentence (notably by orchestrating his own re-arrest via a cartoonish jailbreak), he evades murder charges in Thailand.
- Free Again: After finishing his sentence, he returns to France, only to later resurface—shockingly unrepentant—in Nepal (where he’s eventually re-arrested, before being deported back to France in his old age).
- Quote [49:43], Dr. Engels: “He continues to talk openly to the press… not to confess, but to curate… At this stage, it’s not about remorse, it’s about legacy management.”
8. The Accomplice's Perspective: Marie-Andrée Leclerc
[37:19 – 38:55]
- Victim and Perpetrator: Leclerc’s relationship to Sobhraj emerges as both complicit and captive, explained through the lens of trauma bonding and psychological survival.
- Quote [37:19], Dr. Engels: “Once someone has participated in harm, even under pressure, it becomes harder to see themselves as a victim… Marie was in many ways isolated, disoriented and experiencing prolonged trauma exposure.”
9. Final Analysis: Disguise, Identity, and Serial Offender Parallels
[41:25 – 44:16]
- Manipulation Tactics: Sobhraj leveraged Western assumptions, fluid identity, and social graces to gain trust—parallels drawn to Ted Bundy’s charm and performativity.
- Quote [41:25], Dr. Engels: “They prey on how people think… Charles understood how to mirror Western travelers’ fears and assumptions… weaponized those cultural stereotypes.”
Memorable Quotes & Moments
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On Complicity & Fear:
- [06:29] Dr. Tristan Engels: “When we see someone hesitate to take action, it’s not necessarily weakness or ignorance. It’s often a reflection of uncertainty, fear and isolation.”
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On the Psychology of Accomplices:
- [10:07] Dr. Tristan Engels: “Killers keep accomplices loyal. They normalize the abnormal… the more their internal moral compass gets overridden by survival instincts and group allegiance.”
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On Trauma Bonds & Survival:
- [13:27] Dr. Tristan Engels: “It’s easier to want to accept that Charles and Marie… have their best interest in mind… creating a psychological trap we see with abusive relationships.”
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On Sobhraj’s Motivations:
- [22:41] Dr. Tristan Engels: “He doesn’t appear to be driven by a compulsion to kill… his self-concept is built on being clever, dominant, and in control.”
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On Serial Offenders:
- [41:25] Dr. Tristan Engels: “Both Bundy and Sobhraj showed people exactly what they needed to see to feel safe, gain their trust, and disarm their defenses.”
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On Legacy & Remorse:
- [49:43] Dr. Tristan Engels: “He probably can’t bear the idea of being forgotten, dismissed, or reduced to a villain with no complexity. So he keeps talking, not necessarily to confess, but to curate…”
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On Sobhraj’s Fate:
- [50:48] Vanessa Richardson: “After leaning so hard on his ability to shapeshift, blend in, and make a quick exit, fame is the one prison he can't escape.”
Important Segment Timestamps
- 06:29 — Cognitive dissonance for bystanders & accomplices.
- 10:07 — Psychology behind Ajay Chowdhury’s loyalty and complicity.
- 13:27 — Trauma bond dynamics in captive-victim scenario.
- 22:41 — Sobhraj’s calculated, non-compulsive violence.
- 30:36 — Sobhraj’s chameleonic manipulation of authorities.
- 37:19 — Analysis of Marie-Andrée Leclerc’s trauma & role.
- 41:25 — Psychological parallels to Ted Bundy; use of cultural manipulation.
- 49:43 — Sobhraj’s legacy management, need for attention, lack of remorse.
Tone & Language
The discussion is analytical, respectful, and chillingly direct—balancing true crime narration with empathetic, psychologically informed analysis. The hosts rely on accessible, incisive explanations from Dr. Engels to probe beneath sensational headlines, focusing on the real trauma and psychological complexity at play.
For Listeners New to the Story
This episode unpacks how Sobhraj was able to commit crimes worldwide—not by brute force, but by exploiting trust, manipulating perceptions, and weaving a myth around himself. The podcast explores not only the crimes, but the emotional gravity for both victims and accomplices, psychological traps, and how a blend of charisma, opportunism, and calculated risk allowed Sobhraj to evade justice for decades. By the end, while Sobhraj remains alive and unrepentant, his story is revealed as cautionary: a reminder of both the darkness hidden behind charm, and the tragic power of fear, shame, and denial to enable the worst among us.