China arrested a serial killer thanks to modern forensic technology. (Photo : Getty Images)
Residents of China's Northwest province of Gansu can now sleep soundly after modern forensic technology led to the arrest of the man behind the rape and murder of 11 women from 1988 to 2002.
On Aug. 26, 52-year-old Gao Chengyong was arrested in a grocery store located at the city of Baiyin after determining evidence that he was indeed China's "Ripper"--the man behind 11 cases of rape and murder in a span of 14 years.
In statements cited by the Global Times, the Ministry of Public Security and the Gansu public security department revealed how they confirmed that Gao was indeed the man behind the heinous crimes.
According to the report, the law enforcement authorities re-examined the suspect's DNA via latest forensic technology and determined that he was indeed involved in the crimes in Gansu and the neighboring Inner Mongolia.
Using a Y-chromosomal DNA test, forensic experts in China examined the DNA of a suspect surnamed Gao who had committed a minor crime and was detained at the time.
After that, the investigators probed the Gao family and was able to pinpoint Gao Chengyong, the detained man's nephew, to be the man behind the serial rape and murder.
According to Global Times, the Y-chromosomal DNA of the two matched after forensic experts conducted the Y-STR test that narrowed down the search.
"The chance of two men sharing the same male ancestor is 95 percent if four parts of their Y-STR information match. And if more than nine of their Y-STR match, this chance increases to 99.99 percent," the report stated.
According to Independent UK, authorities described the suspect to have "a sexual perversion and hates women" and is "reclusive and unsociable, but patient" who is aged between 33 and 40 years old.
After he was arrested, Gao's son was interviewed by Chinese media including the South China Morning Post and expressed his acceptance and confusion at what his father did.
According to the son, Gao experienced "bitter suffering" during his childhood, which may explain why he acted like he did.
