Zhou Wen (Chinese: 周文; 1965 – 13 January 2004), known as the Anshan Taxi Devil (Chinese: 鞍山出租车恶魔), was a Chinese serial killer who killed six women in 2003, while he worked as a taxi driver in the city of Anshan. It is believed his killing spree was motivated by his wife's abortion.[1]
Zhou Wen | |
|---|---|
| 周文 | |
| Born | 1965 |
| Died | January 13, 2004 |
| Other names | Anshan Taxi Devil |
| Conviction(s) | Murder x6 |
| Details | |
| Victims | 6 |
Span of crimes | June – July 2003 |
| Country | China |
| State(s) | Liaoning |
Date apprehended | November 28, 2003 |
Murders
editUpon getting out of jail for an unrelated crime, Zhou got a job as a taxi driver for the commuters in the city of Anshan in central-southeast Liaoning province. In the summer of 2003, while on the job, Zhou starting his killing spree, strangling female passengers with a rope who had willingly gotten into his taxi, before dumping their bodies in enclosed open ground areas or roadside water wells.[2] Once all the bodies had been located, a moral panic sparked among locals, who resorted to other defaults to avoid the killer, temporarily affecting the transport business.[1]
Arrest, trial and execution
editOn November 28, Zhou was detained at his home by authorities and subsequently confessed after little questioning.[1] In his confession, he detailed that he hated women following his wife's abortion, which reportedly was without his permission. It was found that Zhou had also written a diary which detailed the murders of all six women.[2]
Zhou was found guilty of robbery and murder. He was sentenced to death on December 30 and was executed on January 13, 2004.[3] In an interview conducted the day before his execution, Zhou stated he had "no remorse" for his victims.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Wife's abortion drove her husband to murder". Independent Online. 9 December 2003. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ a b "'Taxi Demon' caught in China". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 December 2003. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "出租车司机杀死6名女乘客 称不满半夜出行女性". Sohu News (in Chinese). 31 December 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "鞍山"出租车恶魔"昨执行死刑 临刑仍不知改悔". China News Service (in Chinese). 14 January 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2024.