Issei Sagawa wasted no time feasting on Renee Hartevelt’s body, per the New Criminologist. He grabbed a knife from the kitchen and carved her body. In 2009, Sagawa told VICE, “The first thing I did was cut into her buttock. No matter how deep I cut, all I saw was the fat beneath the skin. It looked like corn, and it took awhile to actually reach the red meat. The moment I saw the meat, I tore a chunk off with my fingers and threw it into my mouth. It was truly a historical moment for me.” Sagawa then sexually assaulted Hartevelt’s corpse.
According to the New Criminologist, Sagawa placed the body in the bathtub and cut off Hartevelt’s legs, arms, and head. He kept the water running to ensure the blood’s disposal. In addition, he froze pieces of her thighs and buttocks. The Guardian states that Sagawa consumed various amounts of her flesh for the next two days, including her breasts, lips, and calves. Some of it he cooked in a frying pan. However, Sagawa knew he needed to get rid of the decomposing body. He bought two suitcases and stuffed Hartevelt’s remains inside. Sagawa took a taxi to Paris’ Bois de Boulogne Park and dumped the remains.
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Sagawa, however, was spotted by witnesses, VICE wrote. Furthermore, the suitcases were bloody (per The U.S. Sun). The police quickly tracked down Sagawa and found Hartevelt’s flesh in the kitchen and the refrigerator of his apartment.
