“The Most Beautiful Death Row Inmate”—Ren Xue

Based on publicly available case information and subsequent reports, the core background of Ren Xue’s (1971–1993) case is as follows: Around age 16, she began working at the guesthouse of the Xinan County Aluminum Mine, where she was repeatedly seduced and coerced into sexual acts by the then-mine director Dai Dechang (in his 40s, powerful and influential, a local “earth emperor”).

He deceived her repeatedly with promises of permanent employment, good job opportunities, and family support, and even, when he himself was under investigation for tax evasion, offered Ren Xue as a “gift” to the investigators to protect himself. Ren Xue was deceived multiple times, forced to have an abortion after becoming pregnant, and never received the promised job.

In the end, in a state of rage and despair, she colluded with her friend Cao Linlin to murder Dai Dechang’s daughter Ding (around 17 years old, a junior high school classmate of Ren Xue), using cruel methods (bludgeoning, smashing the head, and incinerating the body).

Ren Xue and Cao Linlin: The crime occurred in 1991, they were sentenced to death in the first trial in 1992, their appeal was rejected, and they were executed by firing squad in July–August 1993. Due to her beauty, Ren Xue was known as one of the “most beautiful death row inmates,” and details such as her opening her mouth before execution (hoping the bullet would pass through her mouth to preserve her appearance) have circulated.

Dai Dechang’s fate: He was not held accountable for rape or related criminal charges. At the time, such “lifestyle issues” or abuses of power were often downplayed at the grassroots level. He was merely suspended for a period and later transferred to another position (or lived quietly). He undoubtedly suffered the pain of losing his daughter, but legally, he largely escaped unscathed.

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