Yang Xinhai

{{Infobox serial killer

| name = Yang Xinhai

| native_name = {{nobold|杨新海}}

| native_name_lang = zh-hans

| image = YangXinhai.png

| caption = Yang during his interrogation, 2003

| birthname =

| alias = The Monster Killer

| birth_date = 17 July 1968

| birth_place = Zhengyang County, Zhumadian, Henan, China

| death_date = {{dda|mf=yes|2004|02|14|1968|07|17|df=y}}

| death_place = Luohe, Henan, China

| cause = Execution by shooting

| victims = 67

| country = China

| states = Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Shandong

| beginyear = 19 September 2000

| endyear = 8 August 2003

| apprehended = 3 November 2003

| conviction = Murder (67 counts)
Rape (23 counts)

| penalty = Death

}}

Yang Xinhai ({{zh|s=杨新海|p=Yáng Xīnhǎi}}; July 17, 1968 – February 14, 2004), also known as Yang Zhiya and Yang Liu,{{cite news|title=Man arrested over serial murders of 65 people |date=2003-11-18 |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/18/content_282569.htm |work=China Daily |access-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012013318/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/18/content_282569.htm |archive-date=2008-10-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Man arrested on suspicion of killing 67 people in China |date=2003-11-15 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/11/15/989697.htm |work=ABC News |access-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212091137/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/11/15/989697.htm |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|first=Vivian |last=Cui |title=Using hammer, shovel or axe, serial killer of 65 struck victims as they slept Yang Xinhai's motives were rape and robbery, police say of four-province rampage. |date=2003-11-22 |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19450316_ITM |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112145516/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19450316_ITM |archive-date=2009-01-12 |url-status=dead }} was a Chinese serial killer and mass murderer who confessed to committing 67 murders and 23 rapes between 2000 and 2003. He was sentenced to death and executed. Dubbed the "Monster Killer" by the media, he is the most prolific known serial killer in China since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Biography

Yang was born on July 17, 1968, in Zhengyang County, Henan. His family was one of the poorest in their village. The youngest of four children, Yang was clever and introverted. He dropped out of school in 1985, at age 17, and refused to return home, instead travelling around China and working as a laborer.{{cite news|first=Li |last=Liu |title=Man faces death after killing 67 |date=2004-02-02 |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/02/content_302087.htm |work=China Daily |access-date=2008-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212022828/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/02/content_302087.htm |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Drifter says he killed 65 people with axes, shovels |date=2003-11-22 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/22/2003076826/print |work=Taipei Times |pages=5 |access-date=2008-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212005616/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/22/2003076826/print |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=China executes murderer of 67 |date=2004-02-14 |url=http://ia.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/14china.htm |work=Rediff India Abroad |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212110117/http://ia.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/14china.htm |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Chinese 'serial killer' confesses |date=2003-11-21 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/asia-pacific/3225864.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804124730/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/asia-pacific/3225864.stm |archive-date=2012-08-04 |url-status=dead }}

Crimes

In 1988 and 1991, Yang was sentenced to labor camps for theft in Xi'an, Shaanxi, and Shijiazhuang, Hebei. In 1996, he was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted rape in Zhumadian, Henan, and released in 1999.{{cite news|title=Chinese serial killer gets death sentence for slaying 67 |date=2004-02-09 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2004_Feb_9/ai_113064211/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |work=Asian Political News |access-date=2008-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212013049/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2004_Feb_9/ai_113064211/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}

Yang's killings took place between 1999 and 2003 in the provinces of Anhui, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong. At night, he would enter his victims' homes and kill all of the occupants—mainly farmers—with axes, hammers, and shovels, sometimes killing entire families. Each time he wore new clothes and large shoes.{{cite news|title=Chinese 'serial killer' arrested |date=2003-11-15 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3273585.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219130413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3273585.stm |archive-date=2008-12-19 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Police arrest man for murder of 25 students in China |date=2003-11-17 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/17/2003076195 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212153622/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/17/2003076195 |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Man who killed 67 people executed |date=2004-02-14 |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/14/content_306131.htm |work=China Daily |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212021009/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/14/content_306131.htm |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}

In October 2002, Yang killed a father and a six-year-old girl with a shovel and raped a pregnant woman, who survived the attack with serious head injuries.

Arrest, trial, and execution

Yang was detained on November 3, 2003, after acting suspiciously during a routine police inspection of entertainment venues in Cangzhou, Hebei. Police took him in for questioning and discovered that he was wanted for murder in four provinces. Yang was sentenced to death by the Luohe City Intermediate People's Court, Henan, on February 1, 2004. At the time of his sentencing, official Chinese media believed he had carried out China's longest and grisliest killing spree.{{cite news|date=2004-02-14|title=China executes mass murderer|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3488047.stm|url-status=dead|access-date=2008-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040607134324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3488047.stm|archive-date=2004-06-07}}{{cite news|title=Ex-convict sentenced to death for murder of 67 |date=2004-02-02 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/02/1075570323767.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212010016/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/02/1075570323767.html |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }} Yang was executed on 14 February 2004 by shooting.{{cite news|title=Serial killer executed |date=2004-02-15 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/02/15/2003098848 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212010356/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/02/15/2003098848 |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }} and he was cremated.

=Motive=

According to some media reports at the time of his arrest, Yang's motive for the killings was revenge against society as a result of a breakup. Allegedly his girlfriend had left him because of his previous sentences for theft and rape. Later media reports claimed that his enjoyment of robbery, rape, and murder was the motive.

While Yang never formally provided a motive, he was quoted as saying:

"When I killed people I had a desire. This inspired me to kill more. I don't care whether they deserve to live or not. It is none of my concern ... I have no desire to be part of society. Society is not my concern."{{cite news|title=Killer of 67 executed |date=2004-02-15 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20040215/ai_n12887297 |work=Sunday Mirror |access-date=2008-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212014601/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20040215/ai_n12887297 |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}

List of his serial murders

19 September 2000, Guozhuang Village, Beijiao Township, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou, Henan, 2 murders
1 October 2000, Chunshuzhuang, Xiaoying Village, Wangdian Town, Yingzhou District, Fuyang, Anhui, 3 murders, 1 rape
15 August 2001, Fangcheliu Village, Juling Township, Linying County, Luohe, Henan, 3 murders, 1 rape
Autumn 2001, Kanglou Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou, Henan, 2 murders
Winter 2001, a village southeast of the county town of Ye County, Pingdingshan, Henan, 2 murders
27 January 2002, Tongxu County, Kaifeng, Henan, 3 murders, 1 rape
30 June 2002, Chaigang Township, Fugou County, Zhoukou, Henan, 4 murders, 1 rape
28 July 2002, Dengzhou, Nanyang, Henan, 4 murders, 2 rapes
22 October 2002, Zhaihu Village, Songji Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian, Henan, 2 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
8 November 2002, Gaoli Village, Shaodian Township, Shangcai County, Zhumadian, Henan, 4 murders, 2 rapes, 1 seriously injured
16 November 2002, Liuzhuang Village, Zhangshi Town, Weishi County, Kaifeng, Henan, 2 murders, 1 rape
19 November 2002, Shiguai Village, Wangmeng Township, Linying County, Luohe, Henan, 2 murders
1 December 2002, Yanwan Village, Wangpiliu Town, Luyi County, Zhoukou, Henan, 2 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
6 December 2002, Liuzhuang Village, Renhe Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian, Henan, 5 murders, 1 rape
13 December 2002, Sijia Village, Malan Township, Yanling County, Xuchang, Henan, 2 murders
15 December 2002, Xiaolizhuang, Miaocha Town, Linquan County, Fuyang, Anhui, 3 murders, 1 rape
5 February 2003, Kuzhuang Township, Xiangcheng County, Xuchang, Henan, 3 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
18 February 2003, Chiying Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou, Henan, 4 murders, 2 rapes
23 March 2003, Chengguan Town, Minquan County, Shangqiu, Henan, 4 murders, 1 rape
2 April 2003, Sanlizhai Village, Taoyuan Town, Cao County, Heze, Shandong, 2 murders
5 August 2003, Lidao Village, Xingtai, Hebei, 3 murders
8 August 2003, Dongliangxiang Village, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 5 murders

Totals: 26 incidents, 67 murders, 23 rapes, 10 intentional serious injuries

References

External links

"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3488047.stm China executes mass murderer]". BBC News. Saturday 14 February 2004.
"[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2004-02/02/content_302087.htm Man faces death after killing 67]" ([http://web.archive.org/web/20150801023024/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2004-02/02/content_302087.htm Archive]). China Daily. 2 February 2004.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120113114056/http://www.danwei.com/serial-killers-in-china/ Serial killers in China]

Category:1968 births

Category:1988 crimes in China

Category:1991 crimes in China

Category:1996 crimes in China

Category:1999 murders in China

Category:2000 murders in China

Category:2001 murders in China

Category:2002 murders in China

Category:2003 murders in China

Category:2004 deaths

Category:20th-century Chinese criminals

Category:21st-century Chinese criminals