The First Serial Killer?: The Story of Liu Pengli

Introduction

The year is 116 BC. You are a tenant farmer in the Liang Kingdom , during the Han dynasty in Ancient China. 

After a long day of toiling in fields, you look forward to a quiet night's rest and that's when you see them… a group of slaves and devious looking men make their way for you. 

You gulp in fear. 

Fellow farmers from the region have been found robbed and murders. 

That's when you notice who is leading the pack of wild men. To your shock and horror, you realize who it is. 

Prince Liu Pengali? 

This is the world's first recorded serial killer.

Who was Liu Pengali ?

Liu Pengali was the Prince of Jidong during the prosperous Han Dynasty. After his father was banished by Emperor Jing of Han (114 BC), his fiefdom was split into 5 parts making Liu prince of Jidong. Pengali enjoyed great comfort being nephew to the Emperor 

Within his fiefdom, he committed heinous crimes against his subjects. He would gather a mob 

( about 20 or 30 slaves and felons) and go out marauding( going about in search of things to steal or people to attack.).

People in Jidong hid in fear in their homes at night, fearing they would be the target of Pengali and his men, until one day the son of one of his victims reported him to the Emperor. Even though the family asked for execution, the Emperor only.  

 Sima Qian, a famous Chinese Historian of the Han Dynasty describes him as such: 

At the age of twenty-nine, he was arrogant and cruel and would go out on marauding expeditions with tens of slaves or young men who were in hiding from the law, murdering people and seizing their belongings for sheer sport. Apparently, Liu Pengli recruited 20-30 individuals with similar predilections to accompany him in the search for victims to rob and kill.  Confirmed victims exceeded 100, and these murders were known across the kingdom, so people were afraid of leaving their homes at night.(Records of the Grand Historian)

Why He Wasn’t Executed

Even though Pengali murdered so many, his Uncle the Emperor couldn’t bear to have his nephew executed, instead banishing him from the royal family and stripped him of his titles. 

It is safe to say if Pengali did not enjoy a place of privilege in Han Dynasty society he would not have been able to get away with the same crimes with such a light punishment. He picked on those who had a lower status in society (farmers) allowing him to do what he pleased to them with little interference. 

Sadly, Liu Pengali set the trends for those serial killers who came after him. Many modern serial killers pick on those who are cast  out by society: 

The data also shows that female sex workers are 18 times more likely to be killed by a serial killer than someone who does not participate in sex work. (Sage Journals). 

Killers such as The Green River Killer, who targeted prostitutes, have been following an unspoken rule set by the very first killer. If you are privileged, you can escape justice for a long time, just never murder above your status. 

more info - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb6RmAnjskI