Yang Xinhai
Background information
Also known as The Monster Killer
Born July 1968
Zhengyang County, Zhumadian, Henan, China
Died February 14, 2004 (aged 35)
Cause of death Execution
Penalty Death
Killings
Number of victims 67
Country China
State(s) Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Shandong
Date apprehended November 3, 2003
Yang Xinhai
(Chinese: 杨新海) (July 29, 1968 – February 14, 2004), also known as Wang Ganggang, Yang Zhiya, and Yang Liu, was a Chinese serial killer who confessed to committing 65 murders and 23 rapes between 1999 and 2003, and was sentenced to death and executed for 67. He was dubbed the "Monster Killer" by the media. He is the most prolific serial killer China has seen.
Biography
Yang was born on July 29, 1968 in Zhengyang County, Zhumadian, Henan Province, China. His family was one of the poorest in their village. The youngest of four children, Yang was clever but introverted. He dropped out of school in 1985, at age 17, and refused to return home, instead traveling around China and working as a hired laborer.
Crimes
Photos of teenage boys killed by Yang Xinhai
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.
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.
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. As news of his arrest and crimes spread, the media dubbed him the "Monster Killer".
Shortly after he was arrested, Yang confessed to 65 murders, 23 rapes and five attacks causing serious injury: 49 murders, 17 rapes and five attacks in Henan; eight murders and three rapes in Hebei; six murders and two rapes in Anhui; and two murders and one rape in Shandong. Police also matched his DNA with that found at several crime scenes. Later it was discovered that Xinhai contracted HIV virus from one of his victims.
On February 1, 2004, Yang was found guilty of 67 murders and 23 rapes, and sentenced to death in Luohe City Intermediate People's Court, Henan. At the time of his sentencing, official Chinese media believed he had carried out China's longest and grisliest killing spree. Yang was executed on February 14, 2004 by shooting
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 break up. 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.
List of his serial murders
September 19, 2000, Guozhuang Village, Beijiao Township, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 2 murders
October 1, 2000, Chunshuzhuang, Xiaoying Village, Wangdian Town, Yingzhou District, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
August 15, 2001, Fangcheliu Village, Juling Township, Linying County, Luohe City, Henan Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
Fall 2001, Kanglou Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 2 murders
Winter 2001, a village southeast of the county town of Ye County, Pingdingshan, Henan Province, 2 murders
January 6, 2002, Liuzhuang Village, Renhe Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, 5 murders, 1 rape
January 27, 2002, Tongxu County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
June 30, 2002, Chaigang Township, Fugou County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 1 rape
July 28, 2002, Dengzhou City, Nanyang City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 2 rapes
October 22, 2002, Zhaihu Village, Songji Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, 2 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
November 8, 2002, Gaoli Village, Shaodian Township, Shangcai County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 2 rapes, 1 seriously injured
November 16, 2002, Liuzhuang Village, Zhangshi Town, Weishi County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, 2 murders, 1 rape
November 19, 2002, Shiguai Village, Wangmeng Township, Linying County, Luohe City, Henan Province, 2 murders
December 1, 2002, Yanwan Village, Wangpiliu Town, Luyi County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 2 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
December 13, 2002, Sijia Village, Malan Township, Yanling County, Xuchang City, Henan Province, 2 murders
December 15, 2002, Xiaolizhuang, Miaocha Town, Linquan County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
February 5, 2003, Kuzhuang Township, Xiangcheng County, Xuchang City, Henan Province, 3 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
February 18, 2003, Chiying Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 2 rapes
March 23, 2003, Chengguan Town, Minquan County, Shangqiu City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 1 rape
April 2, 2003, Sanlizhai Village, Taoyuan Town, Cao County, Heze City, Shandong Province, 2 murders
August 5, 2003, Lidao Village, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, 3 murders
August 8, 2003, Dongliangxiang Village, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, 5 murders
Totals: 26 incidents, 67 murders, 23 rapes, 10 intentional serious injuries.
Photos of teenage boys killed by Yang Xinhai
Background information
Also known as The Monster Killer
Born July 1968
Zhengyang County, Zhumadian, Henan, China
Died February 14, 2004 (aged 35)
Cause of death Execution
Penalty Death
Killings
Number of victims 67
Country China
State(s) Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Shandong
Date apprehended November 3, 2003
Yang Xinhai
(Chinese: 杨新海) (July 29, 1968 – February 14, 2004), also known as Wang Ganggang, Yang Zhiya, and Yang Liu, was a Chinese serial killer who confessed to committing 65 murders and 23 rapes between 1999 and 2003, and was sentenced to death and executed for 67. He was dubbed the "Monster Killer" by the media. He is the most prolific serial killer China has seen.
Biography
Yang was born on July 29, 1968 in Zhengyang County, Zhumadian, Henan Province, China. His family was one of the poorest in their village. The youngest of four children, Yang was clever but introverted. He dropped out of school in 1985, at age 17, and refused to return home, instead traveling around China and working as a hired laborer.
Crimes
Photos of teenage boys killed by Yang Xinhai
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.
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.
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. As news of his arrest and crimes spread, the media dubbed him the "Monster Killer".
Shortly after he was arrested, Yang confessed to 65 murders, 23 rapes and five attacks causing serious injury: 49 murders, 17 rapes and five attacks in Henan; eight murders and three rapes in Hebei; six murders and two rapes in Anhui; and two murders and one rape in Shandong. Police also matched his DNA with that found at several crime scenes. Later it was discovered that Xinhai contracted HIV virus from one of his victims.
On February 1, 2004, Yang was found guilty of 67 murders and 23 rapes, and sentenced to death in Luohe City Intermediate People's Court, Henan. At the time of his sentencing, official Chinese media believed he had carried out China's longest and grisliest killing spree. Yang was executed on February 14, 2004 by shooting
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 break up. 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.
List of his serial murders
September 19, 2000, Guozhuang Village, Beijiao Township, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 2 murders
October 1, 2000, Chunshuzhuang, Xiaoying Village, Wangdian Town, Yingzhou District, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
August 15, 2001, Fangcheliu Village, Juling Township, Linying County, Luohe City, Henan Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
Fall 2001, Kanglou Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 2 murders
Winter 2001, a village southeast of the county town of Ye County, Pingdingshan, Henan Province, 2 murders
January 6, 2002, Liuzhuang Village, Renhe Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, 5 murders, 1 rape
January 27, 2002, Tongxu County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
June 30, 2002, Chaigang Township, Fugou County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 1 rape
July 28, 2002, Dengzhou City, Nanyang City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 2 rapes
October 22, 2002, Zhaihu Village, Songji Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, 2 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
November 8, 2002, Gaoli Village, Shaodian Township, Shangcai County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 2 rapes, 1 seriously injured
November 16, 2002, Liuzhuang Village, Zhangshi Town, Weishi County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, 2 murders, 1 rape
November 19, 2002, Shiguai Village, Wangmeng Township, Linying County, Luohe City, Henan Province, 2 murders
December 1, 2002, Yanwan Village, Wangpiliu Town, Luyi County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 2 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
December 13, 2002, Sijia Village, Malan Township, Yanling County, Xuchang City, Henan Province, 2 murders
December 15, 2002, Xiaolizhuang, Miaocha Town, Linquan County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, 3 murders, 1 rape
February 5, 2003, Kuzhuang Township, Xiangcheng County, Xuchang City, Henan Province, 3 murders, 1 rape, 1 seriously injured
February 18, 2003, Chiying Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 2 rapes
March 23, 2003, Chengguan Town, Minquan County, Shangqiu City, Henan Province, 4 murders, 1 rape
April 2, 2003, Sanlizhai Village, Taoyuan Town, Cao County, Heze City, Shandong Province, 2 murders
August 5, 2003, Lidao Village, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, 3 murders
August 8, 2003, Dongliangxiang Village, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, 5 murders
Totals: 26 incidents, 67 murders, 23 rapes, 10 intentional serious injuries.
Photos of teenage boys killed by Yang Xinhai
