A WOMAN hiker from Guangzhou City who was reported missing April 26 when hiking alone in a Tibetan prefecture in Sichuan Province was robbed and killed by a local motorcycle-taxi rider, Chinese-language media reported, citing local police.

    The body of the woman, identified as Wei Yin, 25, had been found and the alleged killer, identified only by his surname Bai, had been detained, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture police told a news conference Sunday.

    The woman’s body was found June 26 and a DNA test confirmed her identification Friday.

    Wei’s parents were now in Sichuan, police said.

    Wei set off for Sichuan and Tibet alone April 1 and her family had no contact with her since April 26. Her family and friends posted notices on the Internet, trying to find her.

    Police were looking for her in Derong, Xiangcheng, Daocheng and Batang counties in Sichuan and finally caught Bai in Batang on June 24. Bai allegedly admitted killing Wei.

    According to his alleged confession, Wei took his motorcycle taxi at a gas station outside Derong County. He saw Wei taking pictures on the way and thought she must have money with her, so he decided to rob her.

    When they drove to Baiyi Townhip in Xiangcheng County, Bai took Wei to an isolated forest area and robbed her. When she tried to resist, he hit her on the head with a rock, causing her death. He hid the body under a rock in a river. He took her mobile phone, a camera, an MP3 player, bank cards, ID card and 4,500 yuan (US$692) cash. (Wang Yuanyuan)