Zhou Wen

Background

Zhou Wen was a taxi driver in Anshan city in north-eastern Liaoning province. He was described as an ex-convict and had been sent to prison twice. In 1981, he was imprisoned for rape. In 1988, he was imprisoned for rape and robbery.

Zhou Wen explained that his hatred of women began when his ex-wife aborted without his permission. He said he killed a woman who wanted to take revenge on her husband by having an affair with him. He said his desire for revenge became stronger after that. He also said he regretted leaving his daughter and felt guilty when he learned some of the dead were not prostitutes but hotel maids.

The offence

Chinese police said Zhou Wen was responsible for the deaths of six local women through June and July 2003. The women were reportedly all single and had taken late-night taxi rides. Police alleged Zhou Wen picked up women who called his taxi alone at midnight.

After his arrest, Zhou Wen confessed to killing six women. He said he used a rope to strangle the women and that they were strangled or choked to death. Police said their bodies were dumped in wasteland surrounding the city or left in the wildness or in wells within the reach of neighborhood communities. Their bodies were also described as being dumped on wasteland outside town or down roadside wells.

Zhou Wen gave multiple explanations for his actions. He said: "I thought they were prostitutes and must die." He also said: "I began to hate women when my ex-wife aborted without my permission and I killed a woman who wanted to take revenge on her husband by having an affair with me." He added: "My desire for revenge was getting stronger since then." After learning that some of the dead were not prostitutes, he said he felt guilty and added: "But it's too late."

Investigation

After Zhou Wen confessed, police learned he kept a diary of his murders. Local police alleged Zhou kept a diary logging the exact dates and places of his murders. Police said the diary could help them locate and identify each body. One police response described the diary as giving police the locations of all his victims.

Zhou Wen explained why he kept the diary. He told police: "I thought one day I would be arrested so I wrote a diary in case I couldn't remember where I had put them." He also said: "I jotted down the dates and places in case I couldn't remember them when I was caught." He added: "But I haven't thought about being caught."

Police found evidence at his home, including a silver fish that was confirmed to belong to a girl he killed.

Residents in Shengousi described the discovery of one body. They said that when a highly rotted body with long hair was found in a well there at around 10 a.m. on Nov. 28, residents called him a "devil homicide."

An officer named Song from Lishan district police station said: "Six single women have been killed since June and they are all linked to Zhou."

Arrest

Zhou Wen was arrested on November 28, 2003 while he was sleeping at his home. Chinese police announced the arrest on November 28, 2003.

On Nov. 28, residents also described a body being found in a well in Shengousi at around 10 a.m.

Timeline

• 1981 — Zhou Wen was sent to prison for rape.
• 1988 — Zhou Wen was sent to prison for rape and robbery.
• June 2003 — Police said Zhou Wen killed his first victim in June (six women were killed from June and July).
• July 2003 — Police said Zhou Wen killed victims in July; authorities described the period as June and July 2003.
• November 28, 2003 — Zhou Wen was arrested while sleeping at his home; Chinese police announced the arrest; residents described a body discovery in Shengousi at around 10 a.m. on Nov. 28.
• December 3, 2003 — Local media reports described police statements about the arrest and confession.

Trial

The court would make the verdict soon, according to police.

Outcome

Zhou Wen’s legal outcome was described in the provided material only as unknown, with a note saying he was probably executed on November 28, 2003.

Aftermath

Following Zhou Wen’s arrest, jubilant local residents took to the streets celebrating, letting off firecrackers and cheering. Several hundred taxis drivers took to the streets with national flags and logos.

A taxi driver named Zhang Li said: "Our business has been affected by the rascal for months because no one dared to take a taxi at night. We are happy to see him caught," and local media linked the celebration to the end of fear about nighttime taxi rides.

Zhou Wen’s case was under further investigation after his arrest, and he had confessed to his crimes.