The group, consisting of Fu Gen, Li Mei, and Guan Wei, targeted victims in dance halls, lured them with promises of money, drugged them with spiked drinks, and then strangled them. They would dismember the bodies, dispose of the remains in the Huangpu River, and sell the victims' valuables for profit.
Dance halls were ideal because they attracted individuals, particularly women, who were often alone and seeking companionship or financial gain. The group could easily approach and manipulate these victims under the guise of social interaction.
Their downfall came when they became careless and failed to properly weigh down the dismembered body parts of one victim, which later surfaced in a reservoir. This discovery, along with forensic evidence and witness testimonies, led investigators to the group.
They dismembered the bodies, flushed smaller pieces down the toilet, and placed larger parts like limbs and heads into sacks weighted with heavy objects. These sacks were then thrown into the Huangpu River from a ferry.
Guan Wei was a key member who assisted in the murders and dismemberment of victims. He had a criminal background and provided the group with a location to carry out their crimes. He also participated in the disposal of the bodies.
The primary motive was financial gain. They targeted victims who carried valuables like gold jewelry and cash, which they would steal and sell. Their greed drove them to commit increasingly brutal crimes.
They carefully selected victims from marginalized groups, such as sex workers, who were less likely to be reported missing. They also disposed of bodies in a way that delayed discovery, such as dumping them in the river.
The Huangpu River served as a disposal site for the victims' remains. The group used ferry rides to throw weighted sacks containing body parts into the river, hoping the current would carry them away and prevent discovery.
Their greed led them to target a sailor, Hua Xin, who carried a large amount of cash. After killing him, they carelessly flushed body parts down a toilet, causing a blockage that led to the discovery of their crimes.
Li Mei acted as a lookout and facilitator. She helped lure victims, participated in the murders, and managed the disposal of valuables. She also maintained a relationship with Guan Wei, which strengthened the group's cohesion.