Photo: jxnews.com.cn

A pathologically violent man has been locked in chains by his elderly mother for the past 13 years, media in Jiangxi Province reported recently.

Liu Jiuying, 82, said that her son, 44-year-old Zeng Xianzang, used to work as a manager in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Beginning in 1994, he started suffering from a mysterious mental disorder that caused headaches and episodes of aggressive behavior. His wife eventually left him and he soon returned to his hometown penniless.

"I realized that he'd simply lost his mind," Liu said. "He would get incredibly violent around everyone who came near him, so starting in 1998 I had no other choice but to physically restrain him."

Liu said she would keep him attached to a wall via a 2-meter-long chain clasped around his neck.

"But I never mistreated him, even cleaning his room and keeping him neat and tidy," she said."I hope they can find someone to take care of him after I'm gone."