Zhang Yongming

Case record: Zhang Yongming

Background

Zhang Yongming (1956 – January 10, 2013) was a Chinese serial killer.

Little was known about Zhang’s early life. He had been arrested and sentenced to death in 1979 for intentional homicide, but he was released in September 1997 after receiving sentence reductions. After his release, he was given land near his village of Nanmen in Jincheng Township, Jinning County, China.

Zhang lived alone since 2008.

The offence

Zhang was convicted of, and subsequently confessed to, the murder of 11 males between March 2008 and April 2012.

During the murders, he strangled 11 boys and men to death in southwest China’s Yunnan province, in Jinning county. After the murders, Zhang used various means of disposing of the bodies, including dismemberment, burning, and burial, to destroy evidence.

Human remains were found at his home, including preserved human eyeballs in bottles described as preserved in alcohol or “snake wine,” and what appeared to be human flesh drying. Residents reported seeing plastic bags hanging from his home with what appeared to be bones protruding from them. Police reported finding strips of human flesh hung to dry around his house and bones in a nearby vegetable garden.

The killings were described as having included dismemberment, burning and burial of victims’ remains. Zhang also fed flesh from some of his victims to his dogs.

Zhang dried and cured leftover human flesh and sold it in the village market as “ostrich meat,” which he reportedly called “ostrich meat.”

Investigation

In early May 2012, the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China sent a team of investigators to Yunnan Province after media reports of missing teenagers in the area.

A 19-year-old boy identified as Han Yao was confirmed as having been murdered. The investigation showed that an alleged serial killer had begun attacking males who were walking along on a road near Zhang’s home starting 2008. The Ministry of Public Security launched a 20-day-plus investigation together with local police authorities.

Local police discovered physical evidence and DNA comparisons that were presented as showing Zhang Yongming killed the 11 males. Local police authorities had contacted victims’ families.

Residents had suspected missing teenagers might have been forced to work in illegal brick kilns. The investigation was described as involving at least seven missing teenagers and included a confirmed murdered teenager, Han Yao.

It was reported that the Ministry of Public Security sent an inspection team to Yunnan Province to supervise and reinforce the investigation. A special group of criminologists was sent to look into the case after media reported that seven or eight teenagers had gone missing over the years near the village of Nanmen in Jincheng Township, Jinning County, under the jurisdiction of Kunming.

Investigators found that Zhang attempted to destroy evidence using dismemberment, burning, and burial.

Arrest

The dead boy’s telephone calling cards were found inside Zhang’s home. Police arrested Zhang Yongming on May 9, 2012, and he was detained for interrogation.

Zhang Yongming was 56 at the time of his arrest, and he was under interrogation.

Trial

The Kunming Intermediate People’s Court issued a ruling and sentenced Zhang to death. The court ruling stated that he was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in 1979 for the crime of intentional homicide. In 2012, he was found guilty of killing 11 people in southwest China’s Yunnan province.

Zhang was reported to have refused to apologize for the killings and did not show any remorse. He refused to apologize to the relatives of the victims.

Sentencing

Zhang Yongming was sentenced to death for killing 11 people in southwest China’s Yunnan province.

In 1979, he had been given a death sentence with a two-year reprieve for intentional homicide. He was released in September 1997 after receiving sentence reductions.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided in the available material.

Outcome

On January 10, 2013, China’s state run Xinhua News Agency announced that Zhang Yongming was “escorted to an execution site and executed”.

Aftermath

Twelve police officers were penalized for dereliction of duty regarding the murders. This included Da Qiming, the Jinning police chief, and Zhao Huiyun, head of the Jincheng Township police station, who were both dismissed from office.

A local police chief, Da Qiming, and another police official Zhao Huiyun were dismissed for failing to act on disappearances. Their removal was described as being handled according to procedures.

During the investigation period described, police were criticized for taking so long to question Zhang and for failing to search his house or question him despite a number of people going missing. While 20 people within a two-mile radius of Yongming were reported missing, police were only able to tie Zhang to 11 victims.

Other details

Prior to his arrest in connection with the missing teenagers, it was reported that Zhang, who was 57 when the attempt was described, attempted to capture a 17-year-old boy from behind by putting a leather belt around the boy’s neck. The teenager screamed for help, and Zhang released him after villagers came to the boy’s aid. Police arrested Zhang after the incident, but released him after Zhang convinced them he was only playing with the boy. Zhang was also described as being dismissed as a local lunatic by local police who were said to consider him not a threat when prompted to investigate him in connection to missing persons reports.

Witnesses reported that Zhang began selling meat at the local market, which he had never done before, after 1997. They described the meat as cured and dried and sold as “ostrich meat”.

Police were reported to have found “snake wine” described as human eyeballs preserved in alcohol in bottles. Investigators reported that Zhang likely fed human remains to his dogs.

A case detail described that ID, a phone card, and other items belonging to a missing 19-year-old were found inside Zhang’s house, which was used to tie him conclusively to one victim.

During a described period of local village concern, villagers said they were going every day to the police station seeking updates, and local police declined to comment.

Other contextual examples of violent crime investigations were mentioned, including the deployment of police and helicopters in connection with Zeng Kaigui, and the arrest of Yang Shubin and three associates, along with references to other cases including Yang Xinhai being convicted of killing 65 people, and an official in Henan province being found to have set up a sex dungeon. No direct link to Zhang Yongming was provided for these contextual references.