Two Sentenced to Death for Murder of Cross-Dressing Influencer

A court in central China's Henan Province has sentenced two people to death for the 2023 murder of a cross-dressing social media influencer Luo Damei.

The Nanyang Intermediate Court announced the first-instance verdict on Friday, sentencing Yu Jinsheng to death for intentional homicide and robbery, and his accomplice Sha Yujiao to death with a two-year reprieve for robbery. A third defendant, Yang Heng, received 13 years in prison for robbery.

Yu, a habitual gambler and repeat offender who had twice been jailed for robbery, had previously been hired by Luo, whose real surname was Shang, to help resolve a private dispute. Deep in debt and knowing that Luo was a wealthy influencer, Yu conspired with Sha and Yang to extort money from him.

On July 5, 2023, Yang lured Luo to Yu's home in Nanyang, where Yu and Sha kidnapped him and took him to an abandoned house in Nanzhao County. There, they blackmailed Luo and forced him to transfer more than 2 million yuan (US$280,000).

On July 7, Yu strangled and stabbed Luo to death, and hid his body in a sweet potato cellar. After the murder, Yu and Sha returned to Nanyang, disposing of the knife, rope, and the victim's clothes. Yu later went back to the site and refilled the cellar to conceal the evidence.

The court ruled that both Yu and Sha were principal criminals. Yu initiated and carried out the crime, while Sha actively participated in plotting, guarding the victim, providing bank accounts for the transfers, and destroying evidence afterward.

Yang, who helped lure the victim but did not take part in the subsequent robbery or share in the proceeds, was deemed as an accomplice.