A hospital worker in Hungary has been arrested after police say they found a horrifying collection of human body parts inside his apartment — including skulls, a full lower leg, a hand, bones stuffed in a suitcase, and even a heart preserved in a jar.
The 30-year-old man, who works as an orderly at a hospital, was taken into custody in Budapest on June 17 after authorities received a disturbing tip that he had allegedly been storing body parts both at work and at home, according to Hungary’s National Bureau of Investigation.
When investigators searched his apartment, they reportedly made a grisly discovery.
Police said they seized multiple skulls, a complete lower leg, a hand, and what they described as a reconstruction of a human face made from facial skin. Other bones were found packed inside a suitcase.
Authorities also recovered a heart in a jar, though forensic experts are still working to determine whether it came from a human or an animal.
The man allegedly admitted during questioning that he had been collecting body parts, police said. Even more disturbing, investigators said he told them he was especially drawn to human remains — and claimed he had prepared food from human body parts and eaten them.
Police said the suspect is “passionate about anatomy and pathology” and enjoys dissecting animals.
Investigators believe the man may have obtained some of the remains through his hospital job. They also suspect he dug up bodies from abandoned cemeteries in both Hungary and Slovakia.
The suspect is currently being held on suspicion of illegal use of human bodies.
Police also seized his computer, laptops, tablets, cellphones, SIM cards, and data cards as part of the investigation.
Authorities said all of the recovered body parts will now be examined by forensic experts. Police warned that the list of possible charges could grow once investigators determine exactly where the remains came from — and whether more victims or burial sites may be involved.
