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Popular Chinese crime novelist arrested for '95 quadruple murder

By Ray Downs
A popular Chinese crime author was arrested this week for four murders police say he helped commit in back in 1995. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI
A popular Chinese crime author was arrested this week for four murders police say he helped commit in back in 1995. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 18 (UPI) -- A popular Chinese crime novelist who wrote a book called The Guilty Secret has been arrested for a quadruple murder more than 20 years ago.

"I've been waiting for you here all this time," writer Liu Yongbiao reportedly told police when they arrived at his home to arrest him.

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Liu was arrested for the 1995 murders of four people. Police believe he is one of two men who checked into a hostel in Huzhou and attempted to steal items from a fellow guest. When the would-be thieves were caught, police say they killed the guest -- and to cover up the murder, they killed the couple who owned the hostel and their 13-year-old grandson.

Authorities determined that all of the victims were killed with a blunt object.

Police said they were able to track down Liu with the help of DNA technology not available at the time. They were also able to find his alleged accomplice, who was arrested in Shanghai.

"The biggest challenge was the suspects and the victims had no previous relationship," said investigator Xu Zhicheng. "It was very difficult for us to follow the vine to find the melon."

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According to reports, Liu has not denied committing the murders.

"Now I can finally be free from the mental torment I've endured for so long," he wrote in a letter to his wife.

Several of Liu's works have been made into movies. He has also recieved numerous accolades for his work, which include a 50-episode TV series based on a romance novel he wrote, reported Sixth Tone.

In the introduction to The Guilty Secret, Liu said he had begun working on his next book, which would be about a beautiful female author who murdered several people.

The book was to be titled The Beautiful Writer who Killed. It has not yet been published.

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