Issei Sagawa, often remembered as one of the most disturbing criminals in modern history, shocked the world with his gruesome crime in 1981. Obsessed with tall women, he developed a deadly fascination that turned into an act of cannibalism.
Born in Kobe, Japan, Sagawa moved to Paris in 1981 to pursue his PhD. There, he met Renée Hartevelt, a 25-year-old Dutch student known for her striking beauty and tall stature — she stood at 5 feet 10 inches. Sagawa became infatuated with her and soon plotted a horrific crime.
The Murder and Cannibalism
On June 11, 1981, Sagawa invited Renée to his apartment for dinner. While she was eating, he suddenly shot her in the neck from behind.
After killing her, Sagawa raped her dead body. He then went further — he dismembered her and ate parts of her body that he enjoyed the most — especially her legs and much of her torso — over the next two days. Some body parts were stored in his refrigerator.
When later asked about his actions, Sagawa chillingly told Vice in 2009:
“Nobody believes me, but my ultimate intention was to eat her, not necessarily to kill her.”
Discovery of the Crime
Sagawa eventually tried to dispose of Renée’s remains. He packed them into two suitcases and attempted dump them in a lake at the Bois de Boulogne park. However, people noticed blood seeping from the bags and alerted the authorities.
Legal Proceedings and Release
Sagawa never served a proper prison sentence. In France, he was declared legally insane and unfit to stand trial. He was deported to Japan, where doctors declared him mentally stable and said the murder stemmed from sexual perversion.
However, Japanese authorities could not access the sealed court documents from France. Without them, they were unable to prosecute him, which allowed Sagawa to walk free.
Fame and Notoriety
After his release, Sagawa gained notoriety and became something of a dark celebrity in Japan. He authored a memoir titled “Kiri No Naka (In the Fog)” in which he described the murder and cannibalism of Renée Hartevelt.
Shockingly, he also starred in pornographic films and earned money by selling paintings of nude women. His disturbing story continued to attract media attention, and in 2017 he appeared in a controversial documentary titled “Caniba,” where he once again recounted his crime and obsession with cannibalism.
Death
Issei Sagawa lived most of his life under the shadow of his crime. On November 24, 2022, he died of pneumonia at the age of 73. His funeral was private, attended only by close family members, with no public ceremony.
