Hsu Tung-chih was born in 1947 in Taiwan. Little is known about his early life, education, or family dynamics, but by the early 1970s, Hsu had begun to show signs of aggression and violence. In 1973, he was convicted of assault and sentenced to three years in prison. Due to the Criminal Sentence Reduction Act of 1964, his sentence was later reduced to one year and six months. While incarcerated, his mother relied on a distant relative and prison warden named Chang Jin-shu to look after him. This familial connection would later tie into Hsu’s criminal network and victims.

After his release, Hsu maintained a relationship with Chang and soon met Chang’s sister-in-law, Chang Lin-shu, and her daughter Bi-chun. He began dating Lin-shu, intertwining himself further with their family. During this period, Hsu was drifting through life, chasing various schemes, including deceptive plans to smuggle people abroad or find hidden treasure, many of which were part of elaborate plots to exploit or murder his victims for financial gain.

He also maintained partnerships with shady businessmen, including one named Wu Cai, with whom he later shared an apartment. Hsu appeared charming enough to manipulate others into trusting him, including women who saw him as a romantic partner or savior.

The first known killing occurred shortly after Hsu’s release from prison. After developing a relationship with Chang Lin-shu, Hsu invited her and her daughter Bi-chun to his home in Taipei during the Chinese New Year. During the visit, Lin-shu asked for money to return home. Hsu refused. When Bi-chun insisted and threatened to leave him, Hsu snapped. Enraged, he grabbed her head and repeatedly slammed it into the floor, killing her. He later told family members she had returned home to Taoyuan. The next day, he wrapped her body in a quilt, transported it in a neighbor’s van, and dumped it in a bamboo forest near Taichung.

In 1977, Hsu began dating Chiang Yu-yun, a nightclub hostess who dreamed of moving to Japan. Hsu lied, claiming he could smuggle her abroad. Chiang eventually moved in with Hsu and his business associate Wu Cai. The two began an affair behind Hsu’s back. One day, Hsu caught them together. Enraged, he rigged the 220-volt electricity line and electrocuted both Chiang and Wu Cai to death. Afterward, he transported their bodies and dumped them in the same bamboo forest where Bi-chun’s remains lay.

Though all three had disappeared mysteriously, police could not find enough evidence to charge Hsu at the time. He falsely claimed the trio had left for Japan to film an adult movie. The case remained cold for several years.

Hsu’s deadliest crime involved luring four men to their deaths under the pretense of treasure hunting. He convinced four gold prospectors from Kaohsiung—Lin Chin-shou, Wu Chun-rong, Kuo Liang, and Kuo Lien-cheng—that there was hidden Japanese wartime gold in the mountains of Taimali. He charged them a fee to accompany him and drove them to the site. While they were digging, he returned to his car to retrieve a barrel, claiming it would be used to hide the gold.

He tricked the men into hiding inside the barrel, saying police were approaching. Once inside, he filled the barrel with gas, poisoning and killing them. He later buried the barrel in a vacant lot in Guanmiao District.

The breakthrough came in February 1983 when Wu Chun-rong's wife, Chen Yu, grew suspicious and questioned Hsu about her missing husband. Hsu gave evasive answers, prompting Chen to contact the police. Following a lengthy investigation, authorities uncovered the buried barrel and remains of the four men. Hsu was arrested.

Under interrogation, Hsu blamed a fictional Japanese yakuza member named Katsuo Kimura, claiming he had been ordered to kill the men. This story was quickly debunked by authorities. When news of his arrest surfaced, relatives of previous victims—including the families of Chang Lin-shu, Chiang Yu-yun, and Wu Cai—came forward with allegations. Investigators reopened those cases, eventually locating the decomposed bodies in the same forest.

Hsu finally confessed to all seven murders. His motives included jealousy, revenge, and most notably, financial gain. Chiang had reportedly owned a restaurant and substantial savings, while Wu Cai had just sold land for a large sum. The police confirmed these financial details, further solidifying robbery as a key motive.

Hsu was charged with three murders which is likely due to limitations in evidence or procedural strategy and stood trial in Kaohsiung. On March 26, 1984, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He appealed to the Supreme Court, but his conviction was upheld.

On May 14, 1984, the day of his execution, Hsu made a bizarre request: he asked for nine wine glasses to toast all of his victims, two more than the confirmed total. Prosecutors were baffled, suspecting he may have had additional victims or was attempting to delay his execution. Nevertheless, the sentence was carried out that day at Tainan Prison.