A low-budget porn actor with a controversial past is wanted in the shocking case of a dismembered body whose parts were mailed to different places including the headquarters of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Montreal police say they are looking for 29-year-old Rocco Luka Magnotta, believed to originally be from Toronto, in connection with a suspected homicide.
A man with that same name has a huge presence on the Internet, as a low-level adult film actor and as a contentious figure alleged to have posted videos of cats being tortured and killed.
There is considerable online chatter that the recent killing — along with multiple gruesome acts committed on the male victim's body — was videotaped and posted on the Internet.
The huge web presence includes an article, written under Magnotta's name in 2009, titled, "How to Completely Disappear and Never Be Found,'' which shares a six-step process for escaping and shedding one's identity.
Another online article offers tips on how to get into the porn business.
One mainstream news article cites Magnotta complaining that his life had been ruined by unfounded rumours he was dating sex-killer Karla Homolka; the article suggests, however, that Magnotta may have helped spread those rumours himself.
Magnotta was renting an apartment in a Montreal building that is now at the epicentre of the body-parts investigation.
It was behind that blue-collar mid-rise apartment that a man's torso was found in a locked suitcase Tuesday. On the same day, a foot was found in a package opened at Conservative headquarters and a hand was found at an Ottawa postal warehouse.
The building manager told The Canadian Press that Magnotta had been living there for about four months. In the manager's words, Magnotta seemed like a nice guy.
Police in masks have been combing through Apartment 208 in the brick building, zeroing in on that particular unit from which a rotten stench was drifting out, says a building resident.
The neighbour says police were showing people pictures of two men _ the suspected victim and the homicide suspect.
It was one male victim tied to all the body parts found Tuesday, Montreal police confirmed Wednesday. The packages in Ottawa were mailed from Montreal.
Police shared other new details about the case Wednesday.
"The suspect and victim knew each other,'' Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere told reporters.
"It isn't linked to organized crime.''
A man in the west-end Montreal building described the scene.
"I saw the suitcase and I was tempted to go get it,'' said Richard Payette, 60.
"It didn't look too damaged. I said, 'Maybe I'll go down and get it.' But I changed my mind.''
The grisly discovery was made later, by someone else living nearby.
Police wearing masks were milling about Magnotta's second-floor apartment. Payette said the door of that particular apartment was left open for part of the day, and the smell of rotten meat was drifting out into the hallway.
The building manager said Magnotta had lived there for four months but hadn't been seen around in a while. He said there were never any complaints about noise in the unit, and that Magnotta passed a credit test to rent there.
"He seemed like a nice guy,'' said the manager, Eric Schorer.
Police said Magnotta has no criminal record.
He was once featured in a mainstream news report that described false rumours of romantic ties to Homolka. While he is quoted complaining that the rumours destroyed his life, the report suggests he may have spread them himself and concludes the young man should get some help. However, Montreal police have confirmed that Magnotta once dated Homolka, according to an article by the Montreal Gazette .
Magnotta denied a relationship with schoolgirl killer Karla Homolka in 2007 to the Toronto Sun's Joe Warmington.
Warmington recounts meeting Magnotta at the Toronto Sun after the man refused to meet with other media:
The young man was groggy and shaking as he spoke. "I took some sleeping pills and could not sleep last night," he said. "I have had death threats and someone stole my dog."He says he thinks it's all because of this crazy rumour which, he claims, he has no idea how it got started. "I think it might be from someone in my past," he said. "I have worked in adult films and I have met lots of people."
Montreal Police released this press release. Here's a translated version:
Luka Rocco Magnotta wanted in connection with city’s 11th homicideMay 30, 2012
Montreal, May 30, 2012 - Major Crimes investigators with the City of Montreal Police (SPVM) are looking for a suspect in connection with the city’s 11th homicide. Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, is wanted on a Canada-wide arrest warrant.
Luka Rocco Magnotta is also known by the pseudonyms Eric Clinton Newman and Vladimir Romanov. He is white, 1.78-metres tall, weighs 61 kg, and has blue eyes and black hair.
Following a call from a citizen, police officers arrived yesterday at 10:15 a.m. at the rear of an apartment building in Place Lucy, located in the Côte-des-Neiges area. Agents found human remains in a pile of garbage. The investigation was quickly transferred to the Major Crimes Section.
The investigation led police to a home on Decarie Boulevard, also in Côte-des-Neiges, where they conducted a search. In addition, forensic biologists were asked to analyze some elements of the scene.
Meanwhile, investigators are exploring the hypothesis that the human remains found in Montreal are related to a human foot sent to the office of the Conservative Party of Canada in Ottawa yesterday and a package intercepted by Canada Post that contained a human hand. Police have concrete reason to believe the events are linked. However, investigators are waiting on pathological tests before concluding beyond doubt that a link exists.
The SPVM is working closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ottawa Police on this issue.
Anyone with information about that person or see Luka Rocco Magnotta should immediately contact 911.
With Files From Jonathan Montpetit and The Huffington Post Canada
Police have confirmed a hand and a foot were found near the torso.
| @ JudyTrinhCBC : MTL police confrm a hand & foot found near torso. In #Ottawa LEFT foot L-hand found. TOR Police sifting thrgh mail now #ottnews #cbcott |
The Montreal Gazette's video of Magnotta's apartment nearby Pace Lucy and Decarie Blvd in Montreal.
CBC is reporting that the severed left hand was addressed to Liberals and that the murder was videotaped.
| @ ShirleeEngel : I have confirmed the second Canada Post package containing a human hand was addressed to Liberal Party and that suspect videotaped murder |
CTV gives a look into Luka Rocco Magnotta's apartment in Montreal. The severed torso was reportedly found nearby and the area has been the centre of the investigation.
Police have confirmed that Magnotta once dated Karla Homolka.
| @ monique_muise : Montreal police have confirmed that suspect in body parts killing dated Karla Homolka. |
CBC is reporting that Magnotta has served time in prison for multiple fraud convictions.
| @ CBCOttawa : According to @CBCToronto, Luka Rocco Magnotta has 4 fraud convictions dating back to 2005. He served a 16-month sentence. #cbcott #ottnews |
| @ SunNewsNetwork : Coming up on #SunNews: exclusive video of Luka Magnotta. Rogers 142/567, Shaw Digital 177, Bell 506. |
CBC reported earlier that Magnotta may have videotaped the murder and dismemberment. It is not known if this is the video that Sun News will air.
According to police the two packages mailed to Ottawa were sent from a fake address in Montreal.
Police have not been able to identify the victim from the body parts found. They do know the victim is a white male.
CBC is also reporting that there may be a video of the murder and dismemberment.
According to the CBC, the second package intercepted at Canada Post, was addressed to the Liberal Party headquarters.
A Google translation of the Montreal Police press release:
Montreal, May 30, 2012 - Investigators Major Crime Police of the City of Montreal (SPVM) looking for a suspect in connection with the 11 th homicide that occurred on its territory. Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, and is wanted on a Canada-wide arrest warrant.Luka Rocco Magnotta is also known by the pseudonyms Eric Clinton Newman and Vladimir Romanov. He is white, measuring 1.78 meters, weighs 61 kg, he has blue eyes and black hair.
Recall yesterday around 10 am 15, following a call from a citizen, police officers present at the rear of an apartment building in the Place Lucy, located in the Côte-des-Neiges. Agents make the discovery of human remains in a pile of garbage. The investigation was quickly transferred to the Major Crimes Section.
Investigative leads led investigators to a home Decarie Boulevard, also in the Côte-des-Neiges, where they conducted a search. In addition, biologists Laboratory of Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine were asked to analyze some elements of the scene.
Meanwhile, investigators are exploring the hypothesis that human remains found in Montreal, are related to human foot sent to the office of the Conservative Party of Canada in Ottawa yesterday and the package intercepted by Canada Post that contained a human hand. Currently, concrete elements, enabling the police to believe that events are linked. However, before concluding beyond doubt that a link exists, investigators await the results of pathological expertise.
Note that the SPVM works closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ottawa Police on this issue.
Anyone with information about that person or see Luka Rocco Magnotta should immediately contact 911.
Police are saying they have not discovered other body parts elsewhere. They have not been able to identify the victim.
Cross-Canada warrant issued for 29-year-old suspect
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| @ ShirleeEngel : Luka Rocco Magnotta suspected in the torso/foot/hand case is the same person that comes up in google searches on kitten cruelty: police |
Many reports on suspect's name, but we're waiting for police to confirm
| @ meghan_hurley : Magnotta is allegedly a former stripper and porn star with multiple websites depicting him in various photo spreads #ottnews |
|
| @ ShirleeEngel : This story is getting very disturbing. I'm hoping Montreal police can provide some more details for us. |
| @ ReporterGabe : There were more than 500 homicides reported to police in 2010. I wonder how many of those got the attention the one involving the torso has |
Investigators on Wednesday identified Luka Rocco Magnotta as a suspect in the mysterious case of a dismembered torso found in Snowdon on Tuesday, and are asking for the public’s help to locate him.
| @ mtlgazette : A police source has told The Gazette suspect in body parts case is Luka Rocco Magnotta. #bodyparts #MTL #ottnews http://t.co/zAIW9cPA |
Montreal Police just issued this statement:
Veuillez svp prendre note qu'AUCUN point de presse n'est prévu à 14 h, contrairement à l'information qui circule.
Nous enverrons un communiqué de presse vers 14 h 30.
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Translated:
Please note that NO press briefing is scheduled at 14 h (2 p.m. ET), contrary to information out there.
We will send a press release at 14 h 30.
We expect police to release a surveillance camera photo of the suspect at 2 p.m. ET. Stay tuned. We'll live blog the press conference
"The suspect and victim knew each other," Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere told reporters. (CP)
Police have confirmed they are zeroing in on a suspect in the macabre case involving three body parts: the foot in a package opened at Conservative headquarters, a hand found at a Canada Post warehouse in Ottawa, and a torso in Montreal.
They all come from the same male victim, Montreal police confirmed Wednesday.
The packages in Ottawa were mailed from Montreal. Police shared other new details about the case Wednesday.
"The suspect and victim knew each other," Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere told reporters.
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CP | By Peter Rakobowchuk and Sidhartha Banerjee Posted: 05/30/2012 2:54 pm Updated: 06/06/2012 12:25 pm