1. Early Life and Background
Yang Xinhai's early life was marked by poverty and a complex personality, which contributed to his eventual departure from home and early brushes with the law.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Yang Xinhai was born on July 17, 1968, in Zhengyang County, Henan Province, China. His family was among the poorest in their village, and he was the youngest of four children. From a young age, Yang was described as intelligent but also introverted, rebellious, and difficult to manage. In 1985, at the age of 17, he dropped out of school and refused to return home.
2. Wandering Life and Early Criminal Activities
After leaving his family home, Yang Xinhai began a period of wandering across China, working as a laborer. This period also marked the beginning of his criminal activities, leading to several detentions and convictions before his notorious serial killings began.
In 1988 and again in 1991, Yang was sentenced to labor camps for theft. His first theft conviction occurred in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, and the second in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. In 1996, at the age of 28, he received his first prison sentence for attempted rape in Zhumadian, Henan. He was sentenced to five years in prison for this crime but was released early in 1999 after serving only three years. His time in prison and prior convictions are believed to have indirectly contributed to his later crimes.
3. Crimes and Modus Operandi
Yang Xinhai's most brutal crimes, a series of murders and rapes, occurred between 1999 and 2003. His attacks spanned four provinces in China, characterized by extreme violence and a consistent method of operation.
3.1. Modus Operandi and Victimology
Yang's killing spree took place in the provinces of Anhui, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong. His method involved entering his victims' homes at night, typically targeting isolated rural households. His victims were predominantly farmers, and he often killed all occupants, including entire families. The tools he used for his attacks were axes, hammers, and shovels.
His methods varied slightly depending on the victim's gender and age. For male victims, he would typically strike them on the head until they died. For women, he would commit rape before killing them. His methods for killing children were described as even more brutal. During each crime, Yang reportedly wore new clothes and large shoes, which he would discard afterward. In one particularly gruesome incident in October 2002, Yang killed a father and his six-year-old daughter with a shovel and raped a pregnant woman, who survived the attack but sustained severe head injuries.
3.2. Chronology of Murders
Yang Xinhai's crime spree involved 26 separate incidents across four provinces, resulting in 67 murders, 23 rapes, and 10 intentional serious injuries. The major incidents attributed to him include:
| Date | Location | Province | Murders | Rapes | Serious Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2000 | Guozhuang Village, Beijiao Township, Chuanhui District, Zhoukou | Henan | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| October 1, 2000 | Chunshuzhuang, Xiaoying Village, Wangdian Town, Yingzhou District, Fuyang | Anhui | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| August 15, 2001 | Fangcheliu Village, Juling Township, Linying County, Luohe | Henan | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Autumn 2001 | Kanglou Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou | Henan | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Winter 2001 | A village southeast of the county town of Ye County, Pingdingshan | Henan | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| January 27, 2002 | Tongxu County, Kaifeng | Henan | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| June 30, 2002 | Chaigang Township, Fugou County, Zhoukou | Henan | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| July 28, 2002 | Dengzhou, Nanyang | Henan | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| October 22, 2002 | Zhaihu Village, Songji Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian | Henan | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| November 8, 2002 | Gaoli Village, Shaodian Township, Shangcai County, Zhumadian | Henan | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| November 16, 2002 | Liuzhuang Village, Zhangshi Town, Weishi County, Kaifeng | Henan | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| November 19, 2002 | Shiguai Village, Wangmeng Township, Linying County, Luohe | Henan | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| December 1, 2002 | Yanwan Village, Wangpiliu Town, Luyi County, Zhoukou | Henan | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| December 6, 2002 | Liuzhuang Village, Renhe Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian | Henan | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| December 13, 2002 | Sijia Village, Malan Township, Yanling County, Xuchang | Henan | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| December 15, 2002 | Xiaolizhuang, Miaocha Town, Linquan County, Fuyang | Anhui | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| February 5, 2003 | Kuzhuang Township, Xiangcheng County, Xuchang | Henan | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| February 18, 2003 | Chiying Township, Xihua County, Zhoukou | Henan | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| March 23, 2003 | Chengguan Town, Minquan County, Shangqiu | Henan | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| April 2, 2003 | Sanlizhai Village, Taoyuan Town, Cao County, Heze | Shandong | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| August 5, 2003 | Lidao Village, Xingtai | Hebei | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| August 8, 2003 | Dongliangxiang Village, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang | Hebei | 5 | 0 | 0 |
4. Motive
The motives behind Yang Xinhai's horrific serial killings have been subject to various reports and analyses. Initially, some media reports at the time of his arrest suggested that his motive was revenge against society. This was reportedly fueled by a breakup with his girlfriend, who allegedly left him due to his previous sentences for theft and rape.
Later media reports, however, claimed that his primary motivation was the enjoyment he derived from committing robbery, rape, and murder. In a 2008 interview, Yang's father suggested that an underlying inferiority complex and physical complex might have caused Yang to lash out violently when he felt disrespected, leading to his serial killing spree. This perspective countered an earlier rumor that Yang had become a serial killer after going mad from killing his parents' murderer.
While Yang Xinhai never formally provided a clear motive for his actions, 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." This statement suggests a profound detachment from societal norms and a personal gratification derived from his crimes.
5. Arrest, Trial, and Execution
Yang Xinhai's reign of terror came to an end on November 3, 2003. He was detained after acting suspiciously during a routine police inspection of entertainment venues in Cangzhou, Hebei Province. During questioning, police discovered that he was wanted for murder in four different provinces.
Shortly after his arrest, Yang confessed to his extensive crimes, detailing 67 murders, 23 rapes, and 10 intentional serious injuries. Police also confirmed his involvement through DNA evidence found at various crime scenes. It was later revealed that Yang Xinhai had contracted HIV from one of his victims.
On February 1, 2004, Yang Xinhai was formally convicted of 67 murders and 23 rapes by the Luohe City Intermediate People's Court in Henan Province. He was sentenced to death. At the time of his sentencing, official Chinese media regarded his crime spree as the longest and most gruesome in China's history. Yang Xinhai was executed by firing squad on February 14, 2004.
6. Evaluation and Impact
Yang Xinhai's crimes had a profound impact on Chinese society and garnered significant media attention. He was dubbed the "Monster Killer" by the media due to the extreme brutality and scale of his attacks. With 67 confirmed murders, he holds the grim distinction of being the most prolific known serial killer in China since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. His actions were widely condemned, and he is considered one of the most brutal killers not only in China's history but also globally.