Heinous – An Asian True Crime Podcast

It was a quiet evening in rural Thailand in 1958. A father is out looking for his son who had yet to return home, when he spots a faint orange glow in the distance. As he approaches, he sees the local vegetable vendor standing beside a small pile of burning leaves; and beneath them, something pale. It's a leg. A child's leg. His son's leg.   Part 1 - We explore the background of the man who w...

It was a quiet evening in rural Thailand in 1958. A father is out looking for his son who had yet to return home, when he spots a faint orange glow in the distance. As he approaches, he sees the local vegetable vendor standing beside a small pile of burning leaves; and beneath them, something pale. It's a leg. A child's leg. His son's leg.   Part 1 - We explore the background of the man who w...

It was the evening of 2nd December 1984. Residents of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, were sound asleep when they were rudely awoken by an invisible threat. Many stumbled out of bed clutching their throats and rubbing their eyes, the neighbourhood was filled with the sound of coughing and screaming, mothers rushed outside clutching their children only to collapse after a few steps. Over time, this...

Between 1988 and 2002, the quiet city of Baiyin, Gansu, lived in fear. Over a dozen women were found brutally murdered — their bodies mutilated in ways that shocked even seasoned investigators. But what's even more terrifying and mystifying, is that the killer seemed to vanish after each attack, leaving only whispers in the wind. Part 1 - We explore the background of the Baiyin Butcher, Gao...

Between 1988 and 2002, the quiet city of Baiyin, Gansu, lived in fear. Over a dozen women were found brutally murdered — their bodies mutilated in ways that shocked even seasoned investigators. But what's even more terrifying and mystifying, is that the killer seemed to vanish after each attack, leaving only whispers in the wind. Part 1 - We explore the background of the Baiyin Butcher, Gao...

It all unraveled from a seemingly minor altercation in November 2018. Kim Sang-Kyo noticed a woman struggling and tried to help, only to be forcefully removed by security and beaten outside Seoul's infamous nightclub, Burning Sun. But when Kim tried to report the incident to police, he was repeatedly stonewalled and ignored, pushing him to seek the support of netizens and the media. This would ult...

In 1985, what seemed on the surface to be a routine call for petty theft soon escalated into something unimaginable. Authorities arrived on the scene and began questioning the suspect, only to find that his face didn't match the picture on the ID provided, the car's registration showed that it belonged to someone else, and more disturbingly, the suspect had a pistol with an illegal silencer in the...

In 1985, what seemed on the surface to be a routine call for petty theft soon escalated into something unimaginable. Authorities arrived on the scene and began questioning the suspect, only to find that his face didn't match the picture on the ID provided, the car's registration showed that it belonged to someone else, and more disturbingly, the suspect had a pistol with an illegal silencer in the...

In May of 2017, a dismembered body was discovered buried in a shallow grave in the north-east Thai province of Khon Kaen. While investigators were able to quickly point out 3 key suspects, they weren't ready for the chaos that was about to unfold. Photos released by the police of the suspects lit social media platforms ablaze. But instead of talking about the victim or the injustices done, most we...

In late May of 2010, a young construction worker at a playground in Kallang was chatting with some family members on the phone when he would get viciously ambushed, slashed, and left for dead. Shortly after, another man was walking home along the MRT tracks near Kallang MRT when he was similarly attacked and slashed. By the time daylight broke, 3 had been seriously wounded, and another perished fr...

In late May of 2010, a young construction worker at a playground in Kallang was chatting with some family members on the phone when he would get viciously ambushed, slashed, and left for dead. Shortly after, another man was walking home along the MRT tracks near Kallang MRT when he was similarly attacked and slashed. By the time daylight broke, 3 had been seriously wounded, and another perished fr...

In May of 1996, Victor Li - son of Hong Kong business tycoon Li Ka-Shing - was on his way home when several armed men suddenly appeared on the road ahead. Within moments, they fired into Victor's car, shattering the windows and forcing a stop, before pulling him and his driver out into the night. It was one of the most brazen acts of kidnapping ever seen, made all the more heinous by the fact that...

In May of 1996, Victor Li - son of Hong Kong business tycoon Li Ka-Shing - was on his way home when several armed men suddenly appeared on the road ahead. Within moments, they fired into Victor's car, shattering the windows and forcing a stop, before pulling him and his driver out into the night. It was one of the most brazen acts of kidnapping ever seen, made all the more heinous by the fact that...

While many would like to regard Christmas as a day of family gatherings and celebration, the same cannot be said for a certain segment of Hong Kong. Because on that fateful day nearly 80 years ago in 1941, entire neighbourhoods would be reduced to rubble, civilians would be trapped in burning buildings, and soliders would be slaughtered in tight alleyways; marking 25 December 1941 as Black Christm...

It was a quiet Saturday morning in July of 2009 when the residents of North Epping in Sydney, Australia woke up to start their weekend. However, the illusion peace soon started to waver as they noticed that the local newsagency was still closed way past 9am, something that had never happened before. Further calls and house visits by concerned neighbours also yielded no reply, which was when relati...

It was a quiet Saturday morning in July of 2009 when the residents of North Epping in Sydney, Australia woke up to start their weekend. However, the illusion peace soon started to waver as they noticed that the local newsagency was still closed way past 9am, something that had never happened before. Further calls and house visits by concerned neighbours also yielded no reply, which was when relati...

In December of 1970, Pakistan held its first ever democratic elections, paving way for a historic result as the East Pakistan-based Awami League, headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a national majority in parliament. But what was also historic about this moment, was the fact that it lighted the fuse for one of the worst events in recent human memory. Just three months later in March of 1971, Paki...

In November of 1996, authorities at the local Irvine, California police station receive a call about a robbery currently taking place. Within minutes, police rush down to the apartment block where the call originated from, but one of the officers spot a blue mustang loitering just outside. On a hunch, this officer approaches the mustang, and a woman rolls down her window to greet the officer calml...

In November of 1996, authorities at the local Irvine, California police station receive a call about a robbery currently taking place. Within minutes, police rush down to the apartment block where the call originated from, but one of the officers spot a blue mustang loitering just outside. On a hunch, this officer approaches the mustang, and a woman rolls down her window to greet the officer calml...

In early October of 2022, a small group of plainclothes officers enter the luxury tower of the renown Van Thinh Phat Group in Ho Chi Minh City. They quietly make their way to the top of the building where they are met with the company's chairwoman Truong My Lan, a woman not widely known amongst the Vietnam public, but who would soon rock the entire nation.  Moments later, Truong My Lan is arr...

In March of 2016, 36 year old Claire Wang was out with her 4 year old daughter on a walk along the Neihu District of Taipei, Taiwan. The child, nicknamed "Little Light Bulb" by her parents, was pushing her bike along the road when Claire noticed a man coming up casually from behind. But before she could do anything, the man reached into his bag, pulled out a cleaver, and changed their lives foreve...

In March of 2016, 36 year old Claire Wang was out with her 4 year old daughter on a walk along the Neihu District of Taipei, Taiwan. The child, nicknamed "Little Light Bulb" by her parents, was pushing her bike along the road when Claire noticed a man coming up casually from behind. But before she could do anything, the man reached into his bag, pulled out a cleaver, and changed their lives foreve...

By all accounts, Danny Chen seemed like the model solider. Diligent, hardworking, and resilient, he eschewed the usual career paths for a life of regiment and rigor in the military. However, beneath the surface Chen was struggling to fit in, and his torment would culminate in the most tragic of ways, when he would be found dead with a bullet to his head. Part 1 - We explore Danny Chen's past and u...

By all accounts, Danny Chen seemed like the model solider. Diligent, hardworking, and resilient, he eschewed the usual career paths for a life of regiment and rigor in the military. However, beneath the surface Chen was struggling to fit in, and his torment would culminate in the most tragic of ways, when he would be found dead with a bullet to his head. Part 1 - We explore Danny Chen's past and u...

In the morning of December of 1987, the passenger ferry MV Dona Paz embarked on a journey from Leyte Island to the Philippine capital Manila. Little did the passengers know however, that they would soon become witness to the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history, with an estimated death toll of over 4,300, and only 25 survivors. What really happened on board the MV Dona Paz? And what wa...