Hungarian hospital worker arrested for collecting and eating human remains from cemeteries
A 30-year-old man was detained in Budapest after police discovered skulls, bones, and a heart in a jar in his home; he told investigators he had cooked and consumed human flesh obtained from his hospital workplace and abandoned cemeteries in Hungary and Slovakia.
Arrest and discovery
Police in Budapest detained the 30-year-old on June 17 following a tip that he was storing human remains at his home and workplace. He worked as a patient transporter or nursing auxiliary at a city hospital.
His passion was anatomy.
Items seized
During searches, officers found multiple skulls, a complete lower leg, a hand, and a human face mask made of facial skin. Additional bones were stored in a suitcase. A heart preserved in a jar is undergoing tests to determine if it is human or animal.
Confession
The suspect told investigators he felt a strong attraction to human body parts and had already prepared and eaten some of them. He was described as "a keen enthusiast of anatomy and pathology who likes dissecting animals" and spoke openly about his collection with family and friends, even photographing items.
Sources of remains
According to police, the man obtained body parts partly from his hospital duties, partly by digging up graves at abandoned cemeteries in Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia. He was charged with illegal use of human bodies, and authorities have not ruled out additional charges once forensic analysis establishes the origin of all remains. According to Dutch broadcaster NOS, he was released on bail; other outlets report he is under judicial supervision or in pre-trial detention.
