20-Year Manhunt Ends: Last Suspect in 2002 Wugang Printing Plant Murder Case Arrested

The long arm of the law finally caught up with a suspect who had evaded capture for two decades. On Aug. 23, Wugang City Public Security Bureau officers, after years of persistent work, arrested Luan Mouwei, a fugitive in a homicide case who had been on the run for 20 years. The arrest closes a 20-year-old unsolved killing that took place in the Yakou area of Wugang City. Authorities said the breakthrough reflects fairness and justice, upholds the authority of the law, and offers substantial comfort to the victim's family.

This morning, in the Ningbo compound of Samsung Heavy Industries in Zhejiang, thousands of workers reportedly shouted slogans including 'Samsung is my home; I want to work; I need to support my family,' protesting the investor's withdrawal.

△ The arrest team for the 'July 25, 2002' homicide returns from Jilin in triumph (2021)

A conflict spirals into murder: a hired killing

The case dates back to the night of July 25, 2002, when a homicide occurred in Yakou, Wugang City. Liu Moumiao, 43, was killed inside the office building of a printing factory in Yakou. The scene was bloodied; Liu died after repeated blows to the head with a blunt weapon. After the attack, the perpetrator tried to bury the body but, unable to do so, staged a false rape-and-murder scene. The cruelty, egregious nature and severe social impact shocked the community.

Following the crime, the Wugang City Public Security Bureau immediately activated its homicide investigation mechanism and launched crime-scene examination, interviews and suspect pursuit. By examining the victim's personal and social ties, investigators concluded it was a premeditated contract killing. After extensive inquiries, Wang Mouhuan, Liu Mouguo, Liu Mouchao, Tang Moucheng, Kou Mouxiang, Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei emerged as key suspects. On Aug. 6, 2002, following leads and striking decisively, police arrested Wang Mouhuan, Liu Mouguo, Liu Mouchao, Tang Moucheng and Kou Mouxiang.

△ Distant view of the printing factory at the crime scene (2002)

△ Office building of the printing factory at the crime scene (2002)

Interrogation revealed that the victim, Liu Moumiao, had worked at a printing factory in Wugang City. In 1997, after the factory was restructured into a printing joint-stock limited liability company, Liu signed an agreement to end the employment relationship. Later, disputes arose repeatedly between Liu and Liu Mouchao, then the company manager. Because Liu often visited the factory to 'raise the issue,' disrupting production and involving compensation claims, shareholders Liu Mouguo and Wang Mouhuan conspired with manager Liu Mouchao to find someone to 'deal with' Liu Moumiao. With grievances between Liu Moumiao and Liu Mouchao already deep, Liu Mouchao harbored resentment and decided on a deadly plan.

In May 2002, Liu Mouchao approached Tang Moucheng, the company's legal adviser, asking him to help find someone to handle Liu Moumiao. Tang then found Kou Mouxiang and introduced him to Liu Mouchao. Once Liu Mouchao made his intention to kill Liu Moumiao known, Kou Mouxiang recruited two hitmen, Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei. After advance scouting and repeated plotting, they identified Liu Moumiao's residence.

On the afternoon of July 25, 2002, Kou Mouxiang, Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei drove to the vicinity of the printing joint-stock limited liability company in Wugang City. Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei then secretly entered the company's office building and waited in ambush. Around 10 p.m., as Liu Moumiao returned, the two caught him off guard and killed him with a sledgehammer. They had planned to dig a pit and bury Liu, but conditions did not permit it. To hide the crime, Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei carried Liu into a room, fled the scene and left by car with Kou Mouxiang, who had been waiting outside.

△ The crime scene (2002)

After the killing, Wugang police gave the case high priority, immediately formed a special task force and named it the 'July 25, 2002 Liu Moumiao Murder Case,' pursuing a full-scale breakthrough. Within just over ten days, all suspects except Luan Mouwei and Kou Mouzhao were arrested. In 2003, the Pingdingshan Intermediate People's Court sentenced Liu Mouchao and Kou Mouxiang to life imprisonment for intentional injury; Tang Moucheng to 13 years for intentional injury; and Wang Mouhuan and Liu Mouguo to three years for intentional injury.

Startled like a bird, vanished into thin air

After Wang Mouhuan, Liu Mouguo, Liu Mouchao, Tang Moucheng and Kou Mouxiang were arrested, Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei fled upon learning the news. On Aug. 6, 2002, the Wugang City Public Security Bureau listed Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei as online wanted suspects for suspected intentional homicide.

To capture Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei quickly, Wugang police conducted in-depth analysis of their social networks in search of useful leads. After days of work, investigators learned that Luan Mouwei might be hiding at his father-in-law's home in Mengzhai Township, Wuyang County. That day, the bureau swiftly mobilized more than 100 officers to Wuyang County. However, Luan's strong counter-surveillance awareness prevented his capture.

△ Arrest deployment scene

Further investigation revealed that Luan Mouwei had worked for a company in Pingdingshan City and might have fled to his sister's home there. Wugang police again sent officers to Pingdingshan, but he remained at large.

As years passed, officers changed shifts, but over two decades the Wugang police never abandoned the pursuit. The two suspects remained key supervised fugitives, and every possible method was used to track them down.

Whenever even a slim lead appeared, elite officers were dispatched nationwide. Police also contacted the suspects' relatives repeatedly, hoping to persuade Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei to surrender.

In March 2003, June 2004 and during the 2011 'Clean Net Operation,' the Wugang City Public Security Bureau repeatedly sent investigators to Zhoukou in Henan, Shaanxi, Tibet and Jilin Province, where Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei might be hiding. Each operation returned empty-handed.

Never giving up: dawn breaks and a cross-country manhunt

For years, Wugang investigators kept suspects Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei etched in their minds. They never stopped analyzing and pursuing the pair, passing the baton of pursuit from one generation of criminal investigation officers to the next.

Time moved on, season after season. On holidays, detectives gave up rest to stake out and investigate the former residences of Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei, analyzing their escape routes and seeking valuable leads.

Eighteen years after the crime, although the original case files had yellowed and the pursuit dossiers had grown thick, the faces of Kou Mouzhao and Luan Mouwei were deeply imprinted on every investigator's mind. Police continued to focus on the men's families and social ties, conducting deep analysis and cross-checking multiple leads. By March 2019, investigators determined that Kou Mouzhao might be hiding in Lhasa, Tibet.

Through meticulous investigation, deployment, decisive action and sustained effort, on March 23, 2019, with support from the Jinzhu West Road Police Station of the Chengguan Branch in Lhasa, arresting officers captured Kou Mouzhao in Chengguan District, Lhasa.

During interrogation, Kou Mouzhao confessed to intentional homicide. On Dec. 5, 2019, the Pingdingshan Intermediate People's Court sentenced Kou Mouzhao to life imprisonment for intentional homicide, with lifetime deprivation of political rights.

After Kou Mouzhao was brought to justice, Wugang police sought to quickly capture the last suspect, Luan Mouwei. They conducted repeated analysis and verification, but limited investigative conditions meant no breakthrough, and Luan remained at large.

Since the new Party committee leadership of the Wugang City Public Security Bureau took office in November 2020, Wugang police launched a campaign against unsolved homicide cases. The fugitive was again listed as a key target, and a special task force was formed to pursue Luan Mouwei with full force.

Investigators changed their approach, expanded the scope of inquiry and renewed their efforts. In early August 2021, the case turned: through extensive visits and investigation, officers finally found a lead suggesting that Luan Mouwei might be hiding in Jilin Province.

△ Meeting to plan the pursuit of Luan Mouwei (2021)

△ Suspect Luan Mouwei captured (2021)

Task force officers immediately traveled to Jilin Province, 2,000 kilometers away. With strong local police support, they conducted meticulous investigation, overcoming unfamiliar surroundings, language barriers and the complex environment where Luan Mouwei moved. After weighing all factors, they drew up a careful arrest plan. On Aug. 23, 2021, with assistance from Jilin police, officers successfully arrested Luan Mouwei.

△ SWAT officers escort suspect Luan Mouwei back to Wugang (2021)

△ Suspect Luan Mouwei identifies the scene (2021)

During interrogation, Luan Mouwei confessed to intentional homicide. The 'July 25, 2002' murder case was thus successfully closed. The task force's 20 years of arduous, dedicated work upheld the dignity of the law and defended social fairness and justice.

Luan Mouwei is currently under criminal detention by the Wugang City Public Security Bureau on intentional homicide charges, and serious legal punishment awaits.

——Reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-378233.html