A 30-year-old hospital porter in Budapest has been arrested on suspicion of cannibalism after police allegedly uncovered a gruesome collection of human body parts in his apartment, including skulls, limbs, a brain and heart preserved in jars, and a reconstructed human face made from real skin.
Arrest and Investigation
Hungarian investigators say the man, who worked as a patient transporter or porter, was arrested on June 17 following a raid on his Budapest apartment. The investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip about the suspect's behaviour at home. Detectives believe he had been openly discussing his morbid fascination with human remains with friends and family and even allegedly took photos of his gruesome collection.
According to police, a forensic sweep uncovered multiple human skulls, some still covered in moss and soil, along with an intact human hand and a complete lower leg. Investigators also seized what they believe was a human brain and a heart preserved inside a glass jar. The most disturbing find was a "skin mask" – a full reconstruction of a human face crafted from real preserved facial skin, police said, as reported by Pink.rs. Officers also reportedly found a suitcase packed with loose skeletal bones, as well as computers, mobile phones and data cards believed to contain images and evidence linked to the case.
How the Suspect Obtained Body Parts
The suspect is accused of sourcing body parts in two ways, the Associated Press reported. First, investigators claim he exploited his job to access a hospital morgue, allegedly stealing unclaimed body parts and tissue from deceased patients. Second, he is also accused of travelling across rural areas to dig up and desecrate graves in abandoned cemeteries in Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia in a suspected hunt for corpses.
During interrogation, police say the suspect confessed to an "irresistible obsession" with anatomy and pathology and admitted he had repeatedly prepared, cooked and consumed meals made from human remains. Officers also noted he had a history of dissecting animals at home. The suspect's name has not been released under privacy laws.
Charges and Further Investigation
He remains in custody on charges linked to the illegal use and desecration of human bodies. Forensic teams reportedly are now carrying out DNA sequencing on the bones to identify the dead, and authorities have warned further charges could follow as investigators trace exactly where the remains came from.
Scientists from Poland and the Czech Republic recently discovered that the grim long-term practice of cannibalism leads to total population collapse, the Daily Star previously reported.
