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(Clockwise from top left)Huang Yong, Gong Runbo, Peng Miaoji and Yang Xinhai. Photo: SCMP Pictures

China’s worst serial killers: a litany of evil through history

Eva Li

The latest arrest of an alleged serial killer in northwestern Gansu province has rekindled memories of other horrific murderers in China, many of which also involved robbery and rape.

A gang led by Peng Miaoji killed 76 people in the late 1990s. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Peng Miaoji

Between February 1998 and March 1999, a gang led by Peng Miaoji killed 76 people and committed 38 burglaries in eastern Anhui and three other provinces.

Peng was notorious for his cruelty – he would cut victims’ throats and private parts, rape them and burn their corpses to destroy evidence.

Six members of the gang were sentenced to death in 1999.

According to Chinese media, the gang carried out the crimes in 33 villages across 4 provinces, taking valuable items and cash amounting to more than 240,000 yuan.

Yang Xinhai killed 67 people between 2000 and 2003. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Yang Xinhai

Yang Xinhai, a serial killer from central Henan province, killed 67 people and raped 23 women between 2000 and 2003.

He had earlier been sent to labour camp for theft and later jailed for rape, but a break-up with a girlfriend after he was released reportedly triggered another round of violence.

Yang sometimes killed entire families and was suspected of performing acts of necrophilia, according to Chinese media, citing police.

In February 2004, Yang was sentenced to death for intentional murder, intentional injury and rape.

Long Zhimin killed 48 people in just two years in the 1980s. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Long Zhimin

Long Zhimin, born in northwestern Shaanxi province, killed 48 people from 1983 to 1985 with the help of his wife, though proceeds of property they obtained amounted to only 573 yuan.

Long targeted people who were disabled or had dementia, abducting them and killing them eventually. He lived with the corpses and later buried their bodies near his house.

Psychiatry tests showed that Long did not suffer from any psychotic symptoms and was considered intelligent.

Huang Yong killed 17 teenagers using his own “killing machine”. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Huang Yong

Another murderer, Huang Yong, always dreamt of becoming a professional killer.

Huang refitted a noodle-making machine into his own killing machine.

From 2001 to 2003, he kidnapped 17 teenagers, bringing them to his home in Henan province, killing them and then running their bodies through the machine.

Gong Runbo sexually abused five boys and a girl before killing them. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Gong Runbo

Gong Runbo killed five boys and a girl, aged between nine and 16, in eastern Heilongjiang province from 2005 to 2006.

He subjected the children to sexual abuse before killing them.

Liu Jian

Liu Jian raped and killed six women in Shijiazhuang, northern Hebei province, from 1999 to 2006.

After raping and killing his victims, he would cut out their sex organs.

Qiao Jianguo

Qiao Jianguo, another perverse killer, abducted two young girls in Gansu province.

He extracted their intestines, killing one of the girls and leaving the other severely injured.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: China’s most notorious human predators
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