Yang Xinhai

Infobox Serial Killer
name=Yang Xinhai


caption=Yang Xinhai in police custody
birthname=
alias=Wang Ganggang, Yang Zhiya, Yang Liu
birth=July 1968
location=Zhumadian, Zhengyang County, Henan
death=dda|mf=yes|2004|02|14|1968|07|01
cause=Execution
victims=67
country=China
states=Anhui, Hebei, Henan, Shandong
beginyear=1999
endyear=2003
apprehended=November 3, 2003
penalty=Death

Yang Xinhai (zh-s |s=杨新海) (July 1968 – February 14, 2004), also known as Wang Ganggang, 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 | accessdate = 2008-09-13 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azZxpoDW | archivedate = 2008-09-20] cite news | title=Man arrested on suspicion of killing 65 people in China | date=2003-11-15 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/11/15/989697.htm | work =ABC News | accessdate = 2008-09-13 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azaeOljL |archivedate=2008-09-20] 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 | accessdate = 2008-09-13 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azd9C2Fv |archivedate=2008-09-20] was a Chinese serial killer who confessed to committing 65 murders between 1999 and 2003, and was sentenced to death and executed for 67. He was dubbed the "Monster Killer" by the media.

Biography

Yang was born in July 1968 in Zhumadian, Zhengyang County, 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.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 | accessdate = 2008-09-15 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azdvj7cb |archivedate=2008-09-20 ] [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Drifter says he killed 65 people with axes, shovels | date=2003-11-22 | publisher= | url =http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/22/2003076826/print | work =Taipei Times | pages =5 | accessdate = 2008-09-15 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azeeZEwD |archivedate=2008-09-20] [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 | accessdate = 2008-09-20 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azf2a7cJ |archivedate=2008-09-20] [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 | accessdate = 2008-09-20 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azfRjKZg |archivedate=2008-09-21]

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 | accessdate = 2008-09-15 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azflHCF8 |archivedate=2008-09-21]

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 | accessdate = 2008-09-13 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azg1o6oY |archivedate=2008-09-21] [cite news | title=Police arrest man for murder of 25 students in China | date=2003-11-17 | publisher= | url =http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/17/2003076195 | work =Taipei Times | accessdate = 2008-09-13 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azgTUQ8O |archivedate=2008-09-21] [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 | accessdate = 2008-09-20 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azgsS5pz |archivedate=2008-09-21]

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". [cite news | first=John | last=Taylor | title=Suspected serial killer in China arrested | date=2003-11-17 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s991104.htm | work =ABC | accessdate = 2008-09-13 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azhB1zPT |archivedate=2008-09-21] [cite news | first=Matthew | last=Forney | title=Making a Killing in China | date=2003-11-17 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501031124-543838,00.html | work =TIME | accessdate = 2008-09-15 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azhSXlCz |archivedate=2008-09-21]

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.cite news | title=China executes mass murderer | date=2004-02-14 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3488047.stm | work =BBC News | accessdate = 2008-09-13 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azhgb9pv |archivedate=2008-09-21]

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. [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 | accessdate = 2008-09-20 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azi1AEk2 |archivedate=2008-09-21]

Yang was executed on February 14, 2004, most likely by a gunshot to the back of the head. [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 | accessdate = 2008-09-20 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5aziLq5f3 |archivedate=2008-09-21]

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 (to kill more). 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 | accessdate = 2008-09-20 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5azz28vwW |archivedate=2008-09-21]

ee also

* Most prolific murderers by number of victims
* List of serial killers by number of victims
* List of serial killers by country

References