THE Monster Killer...
DUMPED LOVER’S DEADLY REVENGE
When I killed people, I had a desire
■ PROLIFIC serial killer Yang Xinhai would have turned 54 last week.
■ By the time he died aged 36 he had killed 67 people and raped 23.
■ We find out what made this ordinary labourer become known as The Monster Killer... A TWISTED serial killer slaughtered dozens of people simply because he was bitter about a break-up.
Although Yang Xinhai’s murderous spree started in 1999, the turning point in Yang’s life came earlier.
China’s most prolific serial killer was originally sentenced to hard labour camps in 1988 and 1991 for theft, and was locked up again in 1996 for an attempted rape.
In 1999 following his release, Yang’s girlfriend allegedly dumped the labourer when she found out about his past.
His actions over the next four years are thought to have been rooted in a desire for revenge on society.
Newspaper China Underground reported: “He has been described as a very intelligent but introverted and sociopathic young man.”
Between 1999 and 2003 Yang committed 67 murders and 23 rapes.
The paper added: “His methods were extremely cruel. He didn’t leave survivors, and more than a few families were exterminated.”
Yang would sneak into homes at night, typically targeting farmers, and butcher the occupants with improvised weapons ranging from axes to shovels.
He would also sexually assault the occupants who took his fancy. In one attack in October 2002, he butchered a father and a six-year-old girl before raping a pregnant woman who survived with major head injuries. Just two months later he massacred a family of five – two parents, two children and a grandmother. They were discovered by the grandfather who returned home to a scene straight out of a horror movie.
By the time he was arrested in November 2003, Yang was wanted for murders in four provinces. Bizarrely he was caught by accident. Police noticed him acting suspiciously during a routine check of entertainment venues in Cangzhou city.
Police said at the time: “It could be the biggest murder case since the founding of the country.”
Yang confessed to his crimes and on February 14, 2004 was executed by firing squad.
In custody he said: “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. Society is not my concern.”