The murder of children around Tehran was recognized as the largest criminal case in contemporary Iranian history and provoked national outrage.
[7] Bijeh was reportedly imprisoned in April 2004 after the disappearance of five boys, however was released on bail after no evidence of his guilt was found.
[8] According to a lawyer in Bijeh's trial, Farideh Ghairat, he was caught after two of his attempted victims escaped and reported him and an accomplice, Ali Gholampour.
On 16 March 2005, in Pakdasht, the town near the desert area where the killings occurred, in front of a crowd of about 5000, Bijeh's shirt was removed, and he was handcuffed to an iron post, where he received 100 lashings.
The mother of one of the victims put a blue nylon rope around his neck, and he was hoisted about 10 metres in the air by a crane until he died.