The Smiling Killer | Zhao Zhihong | 1996 | 1/2

Following a series of assaults and brutal murders in 2005, residents within the city of Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia breathed a sigh of relief when the culprit, Zhao Zhihong, was eventually caught. It was only in custody that authorities would discover the true extent of Zhihong's evil beginning back in 1996; a heinous monster that local media dubbed "The Smiling Killer". In Ep 1. we'll learn of the crimes committed by Zhao Zhihong in 2005, which led to his arrest, and the wrongful death of an innocent man. In Ep 2. we'll learn more about the tragic fate of Hugjiltu, the innocent man who had reported one of Zhihong's victims, as well as the conclusion to the story of China's notorious Smiling Killer. Special thanks to this week's partner, Korean True Crime, for supporting this episode. You can check out the Korean True Crime podcast here. Join your fellow Heinous fans and interact with the team at our website or through our socials (IG, TikTok) @heinous_1upmedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.