Remains found might be victim of serial killer

NO. 5 CANAL: The remains were found near the site where authorities had previously discovered similar remains dumped by convicted killer Chang Chieh-tsung

A bag of human remains found in Kaohsiung might be those of the sister-in-law of serial killer Chang Chieh-tsung (張介宗), who was sentenced to death in June for three murders, the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday.

On Thursday, a man found a plastic bag while fishing near Chenggong Bridge, the office said, adding that the bag contained what appeared to be skeletal remains.

The bag, which was tied to a dumbbell, was found in Cianjhen District (前鎮), near the site where authorities had previously discovered human remains dumped by Chang in late 2024 and early last year, local media reports said.

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Photo: CNA

SISTER-IN-LAW

After the matter was referred to prosecutors on Friday, forensic specialists conducted DNA analyses, which “did not rule out” the possibility that the remains were those of a woman surnamed Chang Huang (張黃), the sister-in-law of serial killer Chang Chieh-tsung, prosecutors said.

According to the Kaohsiung District Court’s verdict issued in June, the now-74-year-old Chang Chieh-tsung strangled Chang Huang to death at his residence at around noon on Nov. 29, 2024.

Late that night, Chang dismembered the 75-year-old victim’s body and made several trips by bicycle to dispose of the remains in the No. 5 canal in Cianjhen, the Kaohsiung District Court said.

Chang Huang had repeatedly asked her brother-in-law to move out of the residence, which was owned by her son, the court said.

Chang Chieh-tsung later used a piece of cloth to strangle another 75-year-old woman, also surnamed Chang (張), at the residence on Jan. 17 last year, about two weeks after they met, the court said.

PHONE PAL

He used the same method on Feb. 2 last year to kill a 71-year-old woman, surnamed Chao Lin (趙林), whom he had met over the phone, it said.

As with his first victim, Chang Chieh-tsung dismembered the bodies and dumped the remains, making several trips to the No. 5 canal, the verdict said.

After the victims were reported missing, police searched waterways in the area and began finding human remains.

Using surveillance video footage, police also found that one of the victims had entered Chang’s building and had not left, and that Chang Chieh-tsung frequently left his residence at night carrying large bags.

Chang Chieh-tsung has maintained his innocence and has filed an appeal with the Kaohsiung Branch of the High Court.