Yang Xinhai was born on July 29, 1968. As the son of a poor farming family, he was introverted and tenderly strung as the youngest child. At school he had to provide himself with food, which was always a challenge without money. When he was 17, he dropped out of school to join migrant workers.

Donald Henry Gaskins alias Pee Wee was often raped by men in his youth. When Gaskins was raped again by a fellow inmate at the age of 20, he cut his throat - his first victim.