Son Murdered His Mom’s Killers 22 Years Later - Hero or Villain? (Case of Zhang KouKou)

[Music]. Chinese New Year is crazy it's a day for. families to be reunited for people to be. like thankful for what they have and. pray for the next year's blessings it's. a serious holiday I believe everything. shuts down in China for like an entire. week during Chinese New Year yeah. sometimes it's like it's a month of. Celebration it's insane if you've ever. done business with anyone in China for. like a week and a half radio silence. they will not respond to an email they. will not text you back they will not. WhatsApp you it is a very serious.

holiday and just like Christmas people. are typically in good spirits they're. all gonna go home visit their parents. and eat their favorite little dishes. we're gonna call him Coco John Coco he. had other plans Chinese New Year he went. home to spend time with his family he. watched all the little neighborhood kids. set off their little fireworks and he. walked around his hometown taking in the. views the memories of like what he grew. up with and all the things he used to. see as a teenager and then he packed his.

knife and murdered three people. he didn't even do it quickly it was. painful brutal he admitted to every. single part of it and yet and yet in. court he stood in front of the judge and. he basically said I don't regret a. single thing I did he admitted to. killing all three people and the entire. nation. supported him they were rooting for him. they protested the government for even. arresting him they were upset at the.

fact that this killer this admitted. killer was being arrested literally why. like how have we all just like. collectively lost our minds on this one. it's because I think there's one thing. that humans seem to gravitate towards. Revenge. and I'm not talking some unhinged man. that gets rejected so he takes Revenge. by killing a woman the type of Revenge. people can get behind it's like those. eye for an eye cases. 22 years ago Coco was a 13 year old. little boy he witnessed his mom get.

beaten to death by a group of men for 22. years that was all he thought about he. watched The Killers move on with their. lives some of the killers became figures. in local governments successful business. owners they started their own families. Coco waited until 2018. Chinese New. Year's Eve where everyone comes home to. their families to their hometowns to. celebrate to feel unity and peace Coco. came back to kill three people. and he smiled in court and said I don't.

regret what I did I wanted Revenge. [Music]. foreign. as always full show notes are available. at rottenminglepodcast.com and with that. being said let's talk about.

this is a case that fascinated Tiffany. um that's his little sister okay first. of all that makes it sound like Tiffany. is plotting some sort of intricate. Revenge she's not but she's really. emotionally moved by this case and I. think my family sat there and debated. this case for like four hours during. dinner one night so I would love to know. your thoughts on just how far you would. go for revenge or maybe not even just. you but like how far do you think it's. acceptable for anyone to go for revenge. like if you saw this play out in court. in real time how would you feel what. would you be rooting for.

and like do you think if the law doesn't. get Justice that humans should be able. to get Justice in their own ways Coco. says that he has three core memories. like you know those moments that change. your brain chemistry like those types of. memories these are his three I mean sure. maybe there's like a couple other. moments in his life that seem memorable. but he says his entire life 30 something. Years of Living can be summed up by. three events one watching his mom get. beaten to death in front of him when. he's 13. two. holding his dead mom in his arms while. he cried.

and three he remembered watching his mom. her body get autopsied in front of the. whole Hometown the medical examiner. didn't take her to a hospital or a. morgue or anywhere to do this he cracked. her skull open in front of 13 year old. Coco in front of the entire town and. performed an autopsy right then and. there he was 13 when all three events. took place he was literally a kid just a. kid living in a village so the killer of. Coco's mom are actually his neighbors I.

have to break down this neighborhood and. it's Dynamic for you real quick and. we're gonna take it really all the way. back all the way back before his mom was. murdered the story takes place in Wong. ping Village in China and Coco's family. they're the Zhang family it's Coco's egg. and it consisted of mom and dad Coco's. older sister and Coco the youngest their. next-door neighbors were the weighing. family which consisted of Mr and Mrs. Wang and they had three sons so the two. families initially they actually got. along really well okay they were like. really good neighbors they were tight. both families relied on Farming and.

crops so these are really intensive. labor-intensive jobs and for them at. least it was unstable like one year. they're doing okay they can put food on. the table the next year they have no. crops they're barely getting by so on. Seasons when one family wasn't. harvesting as much the other family. would step in share some greens with. them or maybe during a season when one. family was so swamped or somebody got. injured the other family would come in. and they would help so it seems like a. pretty wholesome relationship so for. years this is how they're getting along. really well the Zang family the Wang.

Family they're on good terms. and then a huge government project comes. into town so back in the 90s this is. still a thing that happens but in the US. as well the government we're rolling out. these grain contracts so they're like. we're going to come into these little. towns these little Villages we're going. to partner with local farmers and. produce a ton of grain and a ton of this. and that and we're gonna not only. guarantee that local farmer work but. typically the government contracts would. give you a lot more money than what. these Farmers would normally get during. harvest season it's very lucrative it's.

an amazing opportunity and there's tough. competition to get these contracts it's. not like every single Farmer in the area. like you get a contract you get a. contract people have to really fight for. it so the Zhang family and the Wang. Family they're both eyeing these. contracts and like a lot of stories. where there's competition and money on. the line the neighbors just become not. so friendly anymore they start getting. into these heated public arguments okay. so at first it starts with bickering. like you don't really need the contract. like we need the contract then it's. slowly escalates into full-blown.

arguments of like well we helped you. that last season so you need to give up. this contract bid so that we can win and. their relationship as neighbors was just. completely ruined the whole the zangs. the wings they hate each other now over. this fight for these government deals. the Zhang family just I mean they were. so upset but I think they're the type to. go home and kind of feel bad they're. heated I'm not gonna act like they're. angels and they didn't share a couple. bad words and like you know say a bunch. of things but they go home and they're. like uh maybe I took it too far like.

maybe that was too much I mean we have. been neighbors for years now so their. thinking is okay there's got to be a way. that we can all win it's got to be a. win-win situation maybe they need it. more maybe the wings because they have. three sons we only have two maybe they. need more money for that extra mouth. okay what about this so the Zhang family. comes up with this proposal they're like. listen wangs this is going to be a. win-win situation why don't we do this. you guys sign a two-year government. contract deal we will give up our bid.

for it and the minute your two-year. contract ends you let us take over the. next two years we go back and forth two. years two years two years until. basically the government is like sorry. we're done with these contracts so at. this point both families need these. contracts they're in dire Financial. situations. the Wang Family agreed and they shook on. the situation things never really went. back to normal but at least they're like. cordial again so for two years the wings. are working hard making their money. making a lot of money and they're like. it's been two years but I like it you.

know it's hard for them to think about. even going back to the times where they. didn't have this guaranteed money or. this influx of cash they just like. couldn't bear the idea of that so behind. The Zing family back they renew their. government contract for another two. years they're basically screwing the. things over this month the Zhang family. would not be getting their turn and the. things when they find out they're. rightfully pissed to make matters worse. instead of having some shame instead of. tucking their tail between their legs. and hanging their head and saying you. know what.

I just really need the money you know. coming up with some lame excuse the. wings are like yeah so what are you. gonna do about it yeah we re-signed what. are you gonna do about it we never said. we would give you the contract do you. have it in writing do you have it proof. I didn't think so and this is like the. village in China so a lot of people just. run off their word this is not like New. York City where everyone's like oh put. it in writing sign the Sunday you know. what I mean. the zangs are Furious but Mrs Zhang has. always been kind of the most outspoken. one she's the matriarch of the family.

she also has a really strong moral. compass so this is going against. everything that she was taught as a kid. if you say you're gonna do something you. have to do it what's wrong with the. wings so she would storm over to the. Wang Family House and she would scream. at them how dare you do this like how. could you do this we had an agreement. how could you do this to our family. Mr Zhang would run after his wife he. would hear her literally screaming. because they're neighbors and it would. just echo through the entire. neighborhood he would try to calm his. wife down come a bit let's just go home. they're not even worth it. but the wings were not helping every.

time she would go into their house or go. to their front door in a fit of anger. they would just egg her on they would. scream out the window what are you. barking about we haven't even made money. yet we'll pass it on when we make enough. money Mrs Zhang would lose her mind she. would scream back at them like what the. hell did you just say villagers would. start gathering around to see what the. commotion was and you know most of the. time Mr Zhang was successful at. convincing his wife to come back home Mr. Zhang felt like there's got to be a. better way to handle this you know we. can't just go and scream through.

people's windows anymore we're. embarrassing our family so he goes to. the Village Committee in hopes of having. his deal honored he basically goes to. the mayor and like the the officials of. the village and they're like he's like. come on this was the deal I made with. the wings can you force them to honor. this deal and the committee listens he's. emotional about how his family really. needs this they don't have food they. don't have money they're barely scraping. by and they listen to him and they say. we think you should drop it honestly. like I think you shouldn't push this. issue any further just move on with your. life. this has never happened before okay it.

sounds like it might happen in like a. big big mayor's office a big city this. is a village everybody knows each other. the village committee is known for. resolving these types of disputes turns. out the reason why the Wang Family was. so confident and cocky that they could. get away with going back on their word. was their eldest son had become the. president of the government management. office basically he had a lot of Sway. With The Village committee and with that. he forced them to ignore the zhangs and. that's what they did so the Zhang family. they hate the wings even more now not.

only are they disgusting for going back. on their deal but they're greedy. manipulative liars and on top of that. they're corrupt and using their power to. get rich and screwing people over. Coco's mom went around yelling about how. the wings were evil like literally every. neighborhood stopped she's going yelling. about how they're evil so fast forward. to August 27th of 1996. Coco's mom took. her two kids down to the river to wash. their clothes on their way back they. have to pass the Wang Family House and. Coco's mom didn't I don't think she. necessarily had the intention of. starting a fight and this is just one.

version of the story we're gonna get. into another version later but the. Second Son Of The Wings happened to be. squatting by the Wang Family front door. he was maybe around 20 years old at the. time keep in mind Coco's like 13. so. Coco's Mom is walking past the Wang. Family House and she's like you know. what why the hell not so she spits at. the second son she doesn't really spit. on him just add him the spit lands in. front of him on the ground. and he gets up and he screams at her. what a [ __ ] crazy lady at this point. Coco's mom had already walked past the. Wing House but when he's screaming at.

her what a crazy freaking lady she stops. in her tracks makes you turn and it's. like what did she say she starts. marching towards his face and she gets. in his face and she spits on him this. time it lands on his jacket the 20 year. old responds by slapping her across the. face. so Coco's mom she freaks out in a. full-blown fight ensues Coco's mom and. the 20 year old are in a physical. altercation at this point Coco's older. sister runs home to grab their dad Mr. Zhang and the Wang Family they hear. what's going on it's like right at their.

front doorstep they rush out of the. house now Mr Zhang and the whole Wang. family members are trying to break up. this fight or at least that's what. they're trying to do initially because. as they're trying to pull Coco's mom. away and as they're trying to pull the. 20 year old away they start having words. with each other they're like well if. your wife didn't do this they're like. well if you didn't do this. and instead of breaking up the fight we. get all these like mini fights breaking. out it's just pure chaos it's like a. full-blown brawl between the two. families now Coco's mom was getting the.

biggest of the beatings though because. compared to the 20 year old that she's. quote fighting I mean she doesn't stand. a chance so when she sees the youngest. the youngest Wang son coming straight at. her she's like I'm about to get jumped. by these two kids in their physical. prime. so in the heat at the moment she's. probably scared she grabs the iron bar. that her husband had brought and she. starts waving it she's like stand back. stand back and she's frantically waving. it and it hits the youngest Wang son. twice on the head Coco remembers Mr Wang.

screaming at Coco's mom kill her kill. her and in the chaos it's not really. clear it's going to be debated later but. one of the wing family members pulled. out a wooden bat. starts waving it around and you just. hear these like crack noises Coco's mom. was hit on the head with the bat she. fell over to the ground and she had. blood streaming down her nose and her. mouth. she was motionless it was just all of a. sudden chaos chaos chaos and then.

silence the Zhang family immediately had. tried to help her back up but she's not. responsive the Wang Family I guess they. sense that something is very very wrong. because they just stood there Frozen in. silent they don't even try to help. now a little bit of context for what's. about to happen they live in a village. they don't have cars they can't really. call an ambulance because that would. cost a lot of money like imagine how. much it cost here it's gonna be a. million times worse the closest hospital. is like a few Towns over and it's not. even a big hospital the zhangs are. yelling at the Wang Family to call a car.

for them to take her to the hospital the. Wang Family they're standing there. they're like no that's not our. responsibility. so Mr Zhang ends up leaving his wife and. kids laying there in the wing driveway. and he starts running towards the head. of the village so kind of like a mayor. and he can't even catch his breath he's. explaining the situation like we were. over there and they're fighting us and. then they hit my wife on the head and. now she's down and we need to go to the. hospital and the head of the village is. like oh hold on what okay let me go over. and see what I can do he goes over and. the Wang Family are like why why do we.

need to call her a car our son was hurt. too so technically if you want to do. that the Zhang family needs to call us a. car to take our son to the hospital is. that what they want to do but the mayor. is like yeah well the key difference is. that your son is standing and coherent. Coco's mom is bleeding from her mouth. and nose and is laying motionless on the. ground. so with the urging of the village head. the wing family they begrudgingly like. did not want to do this called for a car. for them and sent her to the hospital. she was pronounced dead at 10 pm that.

night. the hospital that they went to is a. couple Towns over but it's it's just. another small village it's not a city so. it's this tiny little hospital and once. they pronounce her dead they didn't even. have a space to keep her body so they. released the body to the Zhang family. that night it's not really standard for. them to do autopsy even when someone's. death was clearly a beating so they. release her body and the zangs are. broken they don't really know what to do. Mrs Zhang was kind of the matriarch of. the family she was the glue that kept.

everyone together and now she's gone so. under all of this emotional distress and. grief they bring Mrs Zhang's body to the. front of the Wang Family house and they. demand justice so. imagine Coco and his whole family Cook. is sitting there in front of the wing. driveway holding his mom's dead body. while his dad is crying and screaming. like do something. villagers were gathering around the. Zhang family reported the case to the. police and because of this and this part. is so wild but the police hired a.

forensic expert to go to the WingHouse. to check up on Mrs Zhang's corpse and. because they're in the village they. can't transport our body back to the. hospital the village committee can't. afford it the Zhang family can't afford. it it's impossible the forensic expert. just performs an autopsy right then and. there they don't even Force the other. villagers to leave so the whole village. is just watching an autopsy in real time. I don't know why they did that Coco is. just there watching the forensic shaved. off all Mrs Zhang's hair used to towel.

in hot water to clean her scalp cut open. her scalp. and looked inside. nobody tried to give this woman any. privacy not a single person was like. everybody leave nobody not even the kids. were told to go to another room 13 year. old Coco literally watched his mom get. autopsied. they just proceeded to saw her skull. ride open and close it back up after. during all of this the villagers were. crowding around. and the forensic experts stated publicly.

the results confirmed that Mrs Zhang's. death was caused by blunt force trauma. to the Head most likely from a wooden. bat. so that night three members of the wing. family were promptly arrested Mr Wang. the Father the Second Son and the. youngest son were arrested they were all. taken into police custody. but after their interrogations and after. the police investigations the police. said that the youngest son was. responsible for killing Mrs Zhang This. Is Where It gets weird Okay so the Zhang. family remember yes it was chaotic but.

we distinctly remember that it was the. second son that was waving the bat. around towards our mom and we remember. this it wasn't the youngest son but the. police are shutting down the Zang family. like just let it go already the youngest. son already confessed to being the one. that hit her on the head what more do. you want. the belief that the Zhang family held. was that the second son was the one. responsible but because he was 20 he. would be charged as an adult for murder. the youngest son was still a minor the. Wang Family made it so that the youngest. son would go down for it and he would. still have to go to jail with the.

sentencing was so. infuriatingly light and lenient he. wasn't even charged with murder because. he was a minor he was charged with. intentional violence basically assault. and the judge said because Mrs Zhang. started the fight by spitting on the. family member the youngest son's actions. were not as heinous and premeditated he. was only sentenced to seven years in. prison the Zhang family immediately. tried to appeal the sentence they. demanded funeral fees emotional damages. child support death compensation from. the wangs all in all they asked for.

about 40 000 US Dollars which like isn't. the biggest thing in the world like it's. not the most money someone died they. took the wing family to court and the. court decided the wing family should. only have to pay. merely 1500 US dollars that barely. covered the funeral they lost their. mother and all they got was one thousand. five hundred dollars.

foreign. [Music].

but I don't think that they just lost. their mom that night Coco is 13 he. witnessed all of this even the messy. aftermath and how the justice system. wasn't on their side disregarded his. mom's death and said okay her life was. worth fifteen hundred dollars. I mean he witnessed the autopsy for. God's sake like clearly this kid's. mental health is going to be affected. people said immediately they started. seeing the effects he became really. withdrawn incredibly introverted he. hated the idea of interacting with just.

anyone. once he was done with middle school he. drops out and he just tries to find work. his dad wasn't able to support the. family alone so he's like I gotta I. gotta man up Coco's dad was really. worried about him he's like Coco you. can't keep doing this you can't just get. these odd jobs here and there this is no. future for you please why don't you. enlist in the army. they can teach you skills people in the. Army are respected and then afterwards. maybe it's easier for you to find a job. so Coco was in the Army from 18 to 20. years old and he was a remarkably great. Soldier like all of his comrades and his.

commanders said just really good things. about him he was so good to the point. where in the beginning his Commander sat. him down and was like what made you join. the Army Coco was very transparent he. said sir I want to train myself so that. I can get revenge from my mother. uh the commander is like what. so they sit down and he tells him. everything and his leader was very. sympathetic. but he warned Coco you know like these. thoughts of Revenge. they never end well this is so extreme I.

know you're young but I think you should. try to change the way you think. so for the next two years the commander. kept in close touch with Coco trying to. slowly get him to change his thinking. about wanting revenge and maybe even. think about his own future and what do. you want after you leave the army. and for a moment Coco's second guessed. his plan he thought you know what maybe. my leader is right maybe the best. revenge is Success he dreams about going. back to the Village working with his dad. to renovate the house build a second.

story for their old family home maybe. Coco could get a job work his way up he. would be successful but because he. dropped out of school after Middle. School nobody wanted to hire him anymore. he was just jumping around taking odd. jobs and as the days went by Coco's like. are you kidding I'm already 30 years old. he's looking around and everyone around. him they're getting married having. children they have careers and Coco has. nothing he tried to find out how the. wing brothers were doing they had all. moved out of the village they were doing. well the Wang Family and themselves were.

making good money the parents were. retiring not in luxury but they had the. luxury to retire which is a lot the. eldest son was a successful government. worker all three of the sons moved to. the city bought nice fancy cars just. living the dream even the youngest son. after he got out of prison with a. criminal record his older brother. helping get a job. Coco wasn't even able to get a job and. he just kept asking himself. if my mom were still alive would my life. be different would I have dropped out of. middle school would I spend so much time.

with all this hate and anger would I. have been okay would I have found a. girlfriend would I have made friends. would our family be different Coco just. tried anything he at one point moved to. Argentina that didn't end well he just. came back feeling even more discouraged. and upset he bounced around from town to. town and this is so sad but while he was. gone his dad was completely alone in the. village living next to the wings I mean. he could see out the window and see the. very spot that his wife had died. Coco's older sister had moved away and. gotten married Coco was out feeling lost.

in his life and Mr Zhang worked every. single day in building a second floor to. his house he spent every penny every. waking moment building this by his hands. [Music]. foreign.

in China in order to get married. especially in places like the village. men need to have a house otherwise as a. man you'll be hard-pressed to find a. wife. and the nicer the house the more likely. you'll find a bride and Mr Zhang just. wanted his son to get married so he. poured his life into this house he's. like you know what my son has been. through so much he saw his mom die at 13. I'm gonna make the most beautiful house. so that he can marry the love of his. life and create his own family we're.

gonna make better memories in this house. so he's doing this for years and years. and years and he doesn't even see Coco. for years and finally in 2017 December. of 2017. he gets word from Coco that. Coco is going to be visiting this year. for Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is. huge typically every kid that makes it. out of the village and goes to live in. the city they may get back they make. that long journey all the way back home. for Chinese New Year there's even movies. that we watched of these journeys of. like these kids that were from the.

village and now they're like City career. people and. it's like an absolute must so it's 2017. almost 2018 and it's now been 22 years. since his mother's death Coco remembers. stepping foot back in the village and. seeing some kids playing with fireworks. and he won them be careful kids you. might get burned they're like wait are. you Uncle Coco do you remember us I was. like a little kid when you saw me but. I'm like nine now and I'm nine so my. parents said it's okay to play with. fireworks so Coco smiled he walked home.

his dad greeted him at the door and he. told him good. good Coco you're back good. and that night Coco unpacked and he. handed him an envelope. his dad is like what is this take this. money and use it for your retirement dad. I made a lot of money and when sister. comes home we can all talk about helping. you renovate your house. and his dad looks like he doesn't want. to take the money and he just says okay. okay it's okay I don't blame you for not. coming home for so many years just.

don't leave this year let's just all. stay together as a family. Coco wanted to cry when he heard his dad. say family he wanted to cry because he. knew that he would no longer have the. luxury of being with his family he would. soon be in jail. when Coco's older sister came home she. held Coco's hands and she cried then. they hadn't seen each other in years. and I think as an older sister she just. always felt bad for her little brother. that had to watch his mom die she was. just so emotional so February 15th of.

2018 Chinese New Year's Day if you're. confused about the years he came home. December 2017 Chinese New Year is like. February of 2018. so he stayed a few. months yeah he had waited 22 years for. this day that morning Coco's dad left to. go to their ancestors graveyard it was. in the mountains it's a tradition to go. visit your family members and ancestors. where they're buried on Chinese New Year. you have to go clean their grave site. give them offerings typically you bring. food fruit and you burn ghost money. which is like fake money that your. ancestors can spend in the afterlife. Coco said that he would join him later.

but he was busy doing his laundry his. dad did not think anything of it he. wasn't acting weird or strange. but Coco knew that he would not be. joining his dad once his dad left he was. waiting looking through the window. waiting for the three Wang Brothers to. come home for Chinese New Year this is. the only time that they came home to the. Village was for Chinese New Year Coco. saw the eldest drive up in his fancy car. then he saw the youngest son come home. the second son was nowhere to be found. Coco hears the two brothers the oldest.

and the youngest talking about how. they're going to go visit their family's. Graves and he follows them from afar he. checks the little bag that he was. wearing around his crossbody. the knife was still in there that's good. he waits in the bushes near the bottom. of the mountains and when nobody else is. around. he would attack that's what he told. himself around 12 pm the two brothers. were done and they started heading down. the mountain Coco pounced on them he. covered his face with a mask and a cap. and before the youngest could even. register what's going on Coco slit his.

throat. Coco starts stabbing him in the chest. and the stomach and he falls to the. ground and the eldest brother is Frozen. in fear he looks at CoCo registers who. this guy is and he whispers jankoko and. he starts booking it he starts running. Coco's chasing him tackles him to the. ground and he stabs him multiple times. on the chest and the abdomen both Wang. Brothers were now dead and left on the. mountain cocoa runs covered in blood all. the way to the weighing house knocks.

down the front door and walks right up. to Mr Wang who is busy preparing this. intense Chinese New Year dinner and he. walks straight up to him and stabs him. in the stomach Mr Wang drops to the. ground and Coco slid his throat multiple. times. Mrs Wang was in the house. she's an elderly woman at this point. with deteriorating eyesight and hearing. she didn't even know that her husband. was dead she just heard this commotion. and screaming and she just kept. screaming like what's going on what's. going on Coco walks straight up to her. and she's like oh my God what are you.

doing what did what happened to my. husband what did you do and he told her. you're a woman I won't kill you today. and on his way out he stood in the Wang. driveway the same spot that his mom was. murdered 22 years ago. and he lit the oldest Wang brother's. beloved car on fire he had just taken. the lives of three of the weighing. family members. and now he stood there watching it burn. according to villagers that saw him that. day they said Coco kept muttering I. finally did it.

finally got my revenge. it's pity I couldn't get the second son. the villagers discovered the wing. Brothers bodies fairly quickly and you. know there's a lot of foot traffic up. and down the mountain because that's. where a lot of the graveyards are and. through witness statements the police. knew that they were looking for it down. Coco I think most people assumed that he. was on the run that he was long gone. from the village at this point even. Coco's dad thought that he ran all the. way back to the Village back home. because he heard Coco was in trouble he. thought Coco had been in some sort of. fight he had no idea that Coco had just.

committed triple homicide for two days. nobody could find Coco then he would. just walk into the police station and. turn himself in Coco never had any. intention of fleeing escaping or getting. away with this he said he waited two. days to turn himself in because. is Chinese New Year and there's a lot of. fireworks and he just wanted to see. fireworks one last time. later he was asked what he did the last. few days and he said I wanted to turn. myself in immediately but I wanted to.

watch the fireworks and just take a few. walks I walked to the lake I threw my. knife in there and I slept on the grass. the entire night I tried to sleep I felt. really peaceful but I didn't really fall. asleep. the next morning I walked along the. river until about maybe 1 pm I walked so. long that my feet hurt I wanted to go. back and visit my dad one more time but. when I walked home I heard a lot of. people talking so I ran off after that I. went to go visit my mom this is cold.

that night so I slept by an ATM machine. and then I turned myself in. the police asked what happened when you. went to visit your mom he said I kneeled. at her grave and I told her. mom I did it I got my revenge for you. and he said in that moment on his mom's. grave on his knees he felt like all that. pain and anger and hatred and resentment. that had been slowly poisoning him and. killing him from the inside.

it was just gone and he turned himself. in he said you know in the past 22 years. maybe if Mr Wang or any member of the. Wang Family had come to apologize or. maybe I could have lived a life worth. living maybe maybe I could have gotten. married and had kids then maybe this. tragedy wouldn't have happened so he's. being very open and honest with the. police but the police would later be a. bit Shady we'll get to it. Coco's older sister almost fainted when. she learned of what he did after his.

arrest the surviving Wing brother the. Second Son came out to say that this. killing is not a Revenge killing he said. he didn't kill my family because he. wanted to avenge his mother's death. besides my little brother was the one. that hit his mom on the head so again. he's just like bringing it back to his. little brother being the culprit he's. like oh now that everyone knows about. what happened 22 years ago just so you. know it wasn't me that hit his mom even. if he says it to us Mr Zhang was. interviewed and he said it was the. second kid it was the second Wing. brother the second son was holding a bat.

and from the back he hit her head. the interview asked where did it happen. Mr Zing pointed on the ground in the. area where his wife was killed and you. saw the second son was the one that hit. your wife. yes the Second Son the Second Son hit. her what happened after he hit her he. hit her and left. January 8th of 2019 Coco's trial began. it was a really quick trial in the sense. that the evidence was there the killer. admitted to it the judge sentenced him. to death almost instantly which side. note about this trial the prosecutor. tried to reject Coco's admission that he.

did this for Revenge the prosecutors. argued that Coco did this because he was. unsatisfied with his life and Society. they basically almost called him an. incel at one point they straight up. asked him you know you're 35 you refuse. to get a wife why does nobody want to. date you and he said after my mother. died I often have flashbacks in my head. and I can't get rid of them at the end. of the day you know I'm just being. realistic with my current mental state. there's no way I could make another. person happy besides I was fine on my. own they tried to argue that he's not a.

Robin Hood that he's not fighting. Injustice and getting revenge he's just. mad that the wing brothers are doing. better than him that they have fancy. cars and fancy careers and that they're. happier than him to back their Theory up. they brought up the fact that Coco and. his family accused the Second Son of. being the killer they claimed the little. brother went to jail to cover for him. and get less time since he's a minor but. the mom and the Second Son were not. killed so why wouldn't Coco kill the one. that he believed to be the one that. killed his mom. so maybe it wasn't a Revenge killing. Coco was really upset about this he told.

the judge angrily and there's video of. this that he was being vulnerable with. the police he never tried to hide. anything he told them everything he told. them the real reason it was Revenge but. they wouldn't listen they took what he. said about his life turned it around and. twisted it to spin their own little. story he said they used this to use it. against me they said I was mentally. crazy for avenging my mother's death. they said it was because I was unhappy. with Society that's why I did it they. said I was unsatisfied with my life and. that's what led me to kill these people. so many people out there that are.

unhappy with the world and with their. lives but do these people go out and. kill people everyone has a reason to. kill it's not that I'm mentally insane. it was for Revenge. some people argue that may be the best. revenge is to make the killer feel what. you felt.

losing your loved one having them. viciously murdered and having to live. with the guilt that it was partly your. fault that to most people would probably. be worse than death later reporters. asked Coco if the Wang family ever came. to apologize and he said. in the 22 years Wang never communicated. with us or found anyone to talk with us. they never said a single word of apology. nor was there any compensation maybe at. first they didn't have the money to do. it but they live a good life now they. bought a house in the city the eldest is.

the president of nanhood districts. management committee the second son has. a secure job the third has a stable. income in Shan and I feel like they're. avoiding us on purpose it's because of. this that made me grow to resent them. even more on top of that in the the 22. years the third son almost never came. back and even if he did he only came. back during New Year's never to. apologize ever. he's the one that said he did it do you. regret what you did. there's no regretting it now Coco's. family were outraged during the entire. trial because it it felt like deja vu.

from when their mother was murdered the. Wang Family had people on their side. Coco's older sister said this about the. trial you know even in the beginning. when our mother was killed many people. were coming out and giving fake evidence. like fake witness statements do you want. to know why because the weighing son is. a government official in the village. whoever's son works for the government. those are the people I get to say this. is the reality we live in if my Father's. son was the government official then. everyone would be talking for us in. support of us and that story that my mom.

spat on the second child of the Wang. Family that's not even true I remember. it we were walking home from doing our. laundry in the river and the Second Son. started yelling at my mom unprovoked. he was screaming nasty words at my mom. and of course what do you expect my mom. to do she started yelling back Coco's. sister believes that if the Second Son. did not instigate this fight they would. have walked past the WingHouse she said. we began yelling back and forth and the.

second son got really agitated he. grabbed my mother by the head and neck. and started shaking her. and that's how the fight broke out she. also said you know the wangs say they. found a wooden bat and they picked it up. to protect themselves. but that's not true who just has. baseball bats laying around in the. driveway. they went inside and they grabbed it. meaning the wings were a lot more. malicious than they claimed they. literally brought out the murder weapon. [Music].

the judge said. he didn't really care Coco was getting. the death penalty because of the fact. that the triple homicides were. premeditated and Incredibly brutal. Coco's attorney immediately filed for a. retrial stating that Coco had immense. mental health issues from his mother's. murder 13 years ago and this is a really. sad part Coco's dad was trying to borrow. 15 000 US dollars to try and get Coco. examined by these experts in mental.

health for some reason he wasn't really. given a mental health screening like the. family would have to pay out of pocket. for it and to the tune of like fifteen. thousand dollars that encompassed like. the legal help the the medical exams I. mean the system really does keep failing. Coco in this one so Mr Zhang visits his. son in jail and he's trying to encourage. him he promises his son I'm gonna get. you out of here I heard that with. fifteen thousand dollars we can get you. tested and we're gonna fight for you to. live you can get a life sentence or. maybe maybe one day you could even get.

out Coco is mad. he looked at his dad and said you're. being dumb so think about it from Coco's. perspective he's not just being this kid. that's like your dumb dad. he had given his dad his entire life. savings because he knew his fate he. accepted it he knew this was the. consequence for what he wanted to do the. last thing he wanted was his dad to. spend money or borrow money or put. himself in danger for money for him. he told him don't be stupid you're. stupid don't do this he said if you're. going to keep talking like this I never.

want to see you again. foreign. and I know fifteen thousand dollars. sounds like a lot and it is but just to. show you how impossible it was for this. family Coco's dad was interviewed and he.

said that all of his life's working. basically his net worth was lined up on. this wall right now. and you just see these bags of grain he. said I can sell every single bag of. grain on this wall I'll maybe make three. hundred dollars. this is my life's work this is my food. this is all I have. he said maybe I could go and get some. oil from these grains press them get. some rapeseed oil that would get me an. extra maybe 200. five hundred dollars is.

a drop in the bucket when you're talking. about 15 grand he asked the interviewer. I'm 70. even if I work the rest of my. life do you think I can make fifteen. thousand dollars. how can I make fifteen thousand dollars. [Music].

the second trial took place April 11th. of 2019. his lawyer tried to argue that. he was mentally unstable from his. mother's death. and that the Revenge was actually human. instinct so this is actually a very. interesting defense but he he argued. about the literary Classics it's very. interesting I don't think I've ever. heard this the defense attorney starts. talking about books like The Count of. Monte Cristo like Hamlet and uh it's.

this The Count of Monte Cristo is the. story of a man who was in prison for a. crime he didn't commit. there were these jealous colleagues and. corrupt prosecutors that made sure that. he was supposed to rot in prison and. while he was locked up he starts. plotting his revenge and it's just this. really complicated Journey it's a. complicated human journey of seeking. Revenge it's the process of you see this. man lose his kindness and lose his. positive outlook and his trust in. humanity and he's just so hurt and you.

almost see him transform into a villain. of sorts and then he slowly starts. realizing at first at first he's like no. I'm doing the right thing this is human. nature Justice and revenge they're the. same thing he almost felt like he was. doing God's work because every bad crime. needs to have a consequence and then. slowly you see him realize that he's the. villain and that throughout his whole. seeking of Revenge he hurts a lot of. innocent people.

and so the lawyer brings us up and he. says you know think about these books. these literary Classics that everyone. around the world has read The Count of. Monte Cristo Hamlet Shakespeare they're. all centered around revenge and that's. because the human instinct is to want. revenge and I'm not saying that my. client was right. but that's what makes humans human and I. think that we need to take this into. consideration when we sentence him I. think this is a very fascinating defense. I don't think.

it's one that I've really ever seen so. it's just interesting what do you think. of it do you think the lawyer is just. doing what he can with what he's working. with or do you feel like it makes sense. so the lawyer told the judge that these. things should be taken into. consideration and please give him a. chance at the end of the retrial cocoa. was still sentenced to death. the second trial was live streamed it. had two and a half million viewers. [Music].

and when he was sentenced to death again. the entire country went nuts. they were upset at the government for. such a harsh punishment they argued. there were people out there that killed. for fun for no reason at all and they. got less time netizens went wild for. this case they commented on court live. streams on posts on blog posts on. threads they said apologize why is the. judge asking him to apologize he was. forced to do this this man is a hero.

another person wrote. seeing his own mom get killed I don't. think revenge is ever too late. I support him watching your mom get. killed at a young age that trauma is. something you don't just wipe away. someone said in my eyes he's innocent. another person called him a hero and. someone said. even though the consequences are huge in. a world that's unfair you can only use. unfair means to get Justice. someone said he was in the Army nobody.

had any bad things to say about him for. our country he raised his guns and for. his mother he raised his knife. his youth was given to the country and. his life was given to his mom. from what I could find majority of. people were in support of Coco I mean of. course in varying degrees you know most. people were like okay this is very sad I. don't think he should be executed no one. is saying let him free most people were. saying he should serve time but these. things should be taken into.

consideration like do we really need to. execute him but there was a small group. of people that believed technically the. punishment fit the crime he took a life. and now he must give his. now what's interesting is. that started a whole new conversation of. you say that regular humans cannot get. Justice and take a life for a life. but why is the government allowed to do. it so all these people that were in. support of the government's execution. the death sentence they were saying Coco. took a life he must now give his life.

and the netizens that support Coco are. saying that's what he thought too they. took his mom's life so he took a life so. why do you agree with the last half but. not the first half how can you say the. government is doing the right thing and. not say that he did the right thing it's. hard because if you really try you can. see so many sides to this and it's just. so messy despite the anger from the. public the court stood their judgment. and they executed him and in China they. move very quick he was sentenced to. death in July 17 2019 he was executed so.

a little after a year after committing. his crime he had two trials and then. executed his last words were. Dad it's okay. [Music]. so yeah he was comforting his dad to the. end. after his execution the Wang Family. surviving son the second son said even. though Coco is dead I don't feel happy. at all there's no winner here his death. isn't going to bring back my three. family members. meanwhile Coco's dad so Coco was.

cremated after his execution and his dad. refused to take back his ashes he said I. don't want his ashes leave it at the. government's place this case is unjustly. accused unfair and I'm not convinced. that this is the right thing to do so. I'm not going to get his ashes. a lot of people speculate that his dad. was also not ready to face the truth. that his son was gone now the government. kept calling him to ask him to take back. the sun's ashes and he kept refusing so. they eventually threatened him they said. I'm gonna throw his ashes away Coco's. dad said throw it away then do what you. want to do throw my son into the river.

and let him travel around the world. in the end Coco's friends went and got. his ashes and gave them to his father. they went to the mountains and buried. him no ritual no ceremony no funeral. Coco's dad said there was no funeral so. this way it's as if my son never died. Coco's dad visits him often and he says. I feel really sad when I come up here. my wife and son are here even just. talking about it I feel very sad and to.

make matters worse his his house is like. a prison when he looks out the window he. sees the very spot that his wife was. killed when he looks up he sees the. second floor of his house that he spent. the later part of his life building. every waking hour he was building this. house so that Coco could find a woman. one day and marry her he works so hard. to make the interior beautiful so that. he could get married one day he paid. attention to every little detail because. this is where his grandkids would one. day grow up this is where Coco and his. wife would start a family and maybe.

start new memories happy memories and. now it just sits empty. he says he doesn't even go upstairs. because he doesn't want to get upstairs. dirty with his dirty clothes. Coco's sister was equally heartbroken. she said all three of the Wings Mr Wang. the Second Son the youngest son they. should all have been punished 22 years. ago they should have all been punished. why did just the youngest brother get. punished it wasn't like he was the only. one that was fighting that night. and my mom died that night and we got. what fifteen hundred dollars that's it.

we never got anything else not even an. apology I know there's nothing good. about getting revenge and I know that. maybe if my brother hadn't chosen this. route he might be alive with a wife and. kids and he might have had this big. happy family. but he doesn't and maybe he would have. if the government had responded. accordingly when his mom was murdered. the family said that they do feel. thankful though as the court live. streams and Coco's story spread like. wildfire in China Coco was kept in the.

news for a while and people who were. passing by The Village or they would go. out of their way to stop by The Village. complete strangers would visit Coco at. his grave complete strangers would visit. Coco's dad and bring him food and help. him because he's an elderly man Coco's. dad said that's the only thing that. keeps him going he's just so grateful. but ultimately he does regret that his. son did this and he does believe his son. was wrong for getting revenge in total. five lives were lost from this case the. three Wang family members Mrs Zhang and.

now kokozang what are your thoughts do. you think that he deserved the death. penalty do you think that he should have. gotten life in prison instead do you. think that he shouldn't have taken three. lives. in exchange for one what are your. thoughts. or do you think he's a hero do you think. he would have done the same please let. me know and please stay safe and I'll. see you guys on Wednesday for the main. episode.