A police officer at the scene of the murders in Xuyi county, Jiangsu province, on Sunday. Seven people were killed in a brutal attack, including a child and a pregnant woman. CHEN LIANI / FOR CHINA DAILY

SHANGHAI - A convicted thief who allegedly slaughtered seven people in revenge against his former partner has turned himself in, police said on Monday.

The 32-year-old, identified only as Zheng, has been detained after surrendering to authorities in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

He is suspected of stabbing two families to death, including a child and a pregnant woman, during a vicious attack at the home of a man called Wang, with whom he used to carry out thefts.

According to details provided by authorities, Zheng was sentenced to a year in prison for theft in 2009. On being released, he discovered Wang was having an affair with his wife.

The duo talked about the situation, but police say Zheng was unhappy with the outcome. He also failed to find his wife during a visit to Wang's village in Xuyi county, about 180 kilometers from Yangzhou.

Early on Sunday morning, the suspected killer is alleged to have gone to Wang's house to get revenge by stabbing him in the legs. As he was not home, police say he instead used a 20-centimeter knife to slay Wang's parents and 7-year-old daughter, who had been visiting for the weekend.

Hearing screams, the family next door rushed to see what was happening. Zheng is alleged to have then turned the knife on them, killing 46-year-old Li Xiaozhong, his wife, his mother-in-law and his stepdaughter, who was pregnant with twins.

Li was Wang's uncle, according to Yangzhou police.

After the killings, Zheng is believed to have driven to Yangzhou, where he handed himself over to police at 9 pm. Detectives discovered the bodies the next morning, while the suspect was escorted back to Xuyi that same day.

Zheng is said to be a native of Guanyun county, 200 km from the scene of the murders.

Forensic experts have been dispatched to Xuyi to lead the investigation and authorities are taking measures to comfort the victims' families and local residents, police said.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/06/2011 page5)