In April 1997, 16-year-old Pai Hsiao-yen, daughter of Taiwanese actress Pai Bing-bing, was kidnapped, held for ransom, and murdered in Taiwan, triggering an eight-month manhunt, further killings, and mass protests that led to the resignation of Premier Lien Chan.
Pai Hsiao-yen, the only daughter of television host and actress Pai Bing-bing and Japanese author Ikki Kajiwara, disappeared on the morning of April 14, 1997, after leaving for Hsing Wu High School in Taiwan. Her family subsequently received a ransom note demanding US$5,000,000, accompanied by a severed piece of her finger and a photograph of a bound girl.
Press in Taiwan first reported the kidnapping on April 23, 1997, breaking from the customary practice of reporting such cases only after resolution. Several planned ransom drops were aborted after the kidnappers noticed police and media following Pai Bing-bing. After roughly 11 days of negotiation and more than 20 changes to payment locations, police decoded the kidnappers' communication methods. A subsequent raid led to one arrest, while two suspects escaped following a gun battle with police.
On April 28, 1997, Pai Hsiao-yen's mutilated body, weighted down with dumbbells, was found in a drainage ditch in Zhonggang Dapai, Taishan Township. Investigators determined she had been dead for approximately ten days before discovery, meaning ransom negotiations had continued after her likely death, including a phone call from an impersonator meant to convince her mother she was still alive. A photograph of her body was leaked to media outlets, including the China Times, which published it.
Of four people initially arrested, three principal suspects — Chen Chien-hsing, Lin Chun-sheng, and Kao Tien-meen — escaped and evaded an island-wide police manhunt for up to eight months, during which police were authorized to shoot suspects without warning if they resisted. During this period the trio abducted a county councilor and a businessman for ransom, and killed a plastic surgeon, his wife, and a nurse after the surgeon said he could not perform emergency facial reconstruction on them. A shootout with police in August 1997 killed one officer and led to Lin's suicide. Kao shot himself when police attempted to apprehend him in November 1997. Chen, the last surviving suspect, took a South African military attaché's family hostage on November 18, 1997, before surrendering after negotiations. He later confessed to Pai's kidnapping and other crimes, was convicted in December 1998, and was executed on October 6, 1999.
One of the initially arrested suspects, Chang Chih-huei, had his conviction overturned for insufficient evidence, but was later found guilty of Pai's murder in a retrial after being separately sentenced to death in 2005 for an unrelated 2004 murder; his sentences were commuted to 20 years due to voluntary surrender. Chen Chien-hsing's wife, Chen Suzhen, was also arrested but later found not guilty.
The case, alongside other unsolved violent crimes, prompted public demonstrations in May 1997 demanding the resignation of Premier Lien Chan. President Lee Teng-hui apologized on May 15, 1997, and several officials, including Minister without Portfolio Ma Ying-jeou and Minister of the Interior Lin Fong-cheng, resigned. Lien Chan resigned as Premier on August 22, 1997.
Zhonggang Dapai, Taishan Township, Taipei County, Taiwan
Case status
solved
Case timeline
1997-04-14
Pai Hsiao-yen disappears after leaving for Hsing Wu High School.
1997-04-23
Taiwanese press first report the kidnapping.
1997-04-28
Pai Hsiao-yen's mutilated body is found in a drainage ditch in Taishan Township.
1997-05-04
Demonstrators march demanding Premier Lien Chan's resignation.
1997-05-15
President Lee Teng-hui apologizes; announces Cabinet reshuffle.
1997-05-18
Second demonstration held demanding Lien Chan's resignation.
1997-06-03
Trio abducts Taipei County councilor Tsai Ming-tang.
1997-08-06
Trio kidnaps a businessman and receives ransom.
1997-08-19
Shootout on Wuchang Street kills a police officer; Lin Chun-sheng commits suicide.
1997-08-22
Premier Lien Chan resigns his post.
1997-10-23
Kao and Chen kill a plastic surgeon, his wife, and a nurse.
1997-11-17
Kao Tien-meen shoots himself when police attempt to apprehend him.
1997-11-18
Chen Chien-hsing takes the Alexander family hostage, later surrenders.
1998-12
Chen Chien-hsing convicted of kidnappings, murders, and sexual assaults.
1999-10-06
Chen Chien-hsing is executed.
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People
Lin Chun-sheng
CHARGED
Sought by police as a principal suspect in the kidnapping and murder; died by suicide during a shootout with police on August 19, 1997, before trial.
Chen Chien-hsing
CONVICTED
Convicted in December 1998 of kidnappings, murders, and multiple counts of sexual assault; executed October 6, 1999.
Kao Tien-meen
CHARGED
Sought by police as a principal suspect in the kidnapping and murder; died by suicide when police attempted to apprehend him on November 17, 1997, before trial.
Pai Hsiao-yen
VICTIM
Kidnapped, held for ransom, and murdered in April 1997 at age 16.
Chen Suzhen
ACQUITTED
Arrested as a suspect but later found not guilty.
Chang Chih-huei
CONVICTED
Initially arrested and convicted; conviction overturned for insufficient evidence, but later found guilty in a re-trial and given a life sentence, commuted to 20 years due to voluntary surrender; separately sentenced to death in 2005 for an unrelated 2004 murder.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
In April 1997, 16-year-old Pai Hsiao-yen, daughter of Taiwanese actress Pai Bing-bing, was kidnapped, held for ransom, and murdered in Taiwan, triggering an eight-month manhunt, further killings, and mass protests that led to the resignation of Premier Lien Chan.
Where did the murder happen?
Zhonggang Dapai, Taishan Township, Taipei County, Taiwan.
Who was convicted?
Chen Chien-hsing (Convicted in December 1998 of kidnappings, murders, and multiple counts of sexual assault; executed October 6, 1999.) and Chang Chih-huei (Initially arrested and convicted; conviction overturned for insufficient evidence, but later found guilty in a re-trial and given a life sentence, commuted to 20 years due to voluntary surrender; separately sentenced to death in 2005 for an unrelated 2004 murder.).
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