Yang Lipei was missing for over three months before her family became suspicious. Her husband, Zhu Xiaodong had been using her phone and social media to respond to messages, leading her relatives to believe she was still alive. However, on 1 February 2017, as her insisted on seeing her in person for a family event, Zhu confessed to his parents-in-law and turned himself in.
The investigation revealed that Zhu had purchased books on human anatomy and a large-size freezer before the murder, suggesting premeditation. On October 17, 2016, after an argument at their home in Shanghai, Zhu strangled Yang to death, wrapped her body in a bedsheet, and hid it in the freezer. In the following months, Zhu transferred ¥45,000 from Yang’s account to himself and used their shared assets for luxury shopping and travel, all while maintaining the illusion that she was still alive through her phone.
The case gained widespread public attention due to Zhu’s post-crime deception and the gruesome nature of the crime. Yang’s family demanded the death penalty, and media reports largely focused on the cruelty of the case. In August 2018, the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Zhu to death for intentional homicide, citing premeditation, post-crime deception, and lack of remorse, despite his voluntary surrender. Zhu appealed, but in July 2019, the Shanghai High People’s Court upheld the sentence, which was later approved by the Supreme People’s Court. Following this, the supreme court announced that Zhu was executed on June 4, 2020.
The case highlights the influence of a culture of retaliatory justice, as both the victim’s family and the public strongly stand for the death penalty. In China, courts often impose capital punishment in such morally shocking cases that spark widespread public outcry, and arrange public officials, journalists and members of the public to observe the trial, seeking to deter crime and respond to societal concerns.