Reuters North American News Service, December 11th, 2007
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A Mexican writer accused of
killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body was
found dead hanging by his belt in a prison cell Tuesday, the
prison service said.
Jose Luis Calva, 38, who had been working on a book called
"Cannibal Instincts," did not turn up for the morning roll
call. Mexican media said he had committed suicide.
Calva was awaiting trial for the murder of his former
girlfriend, Alejandra Galeana.
Police arrested Calva after bursting into his apartment in
October and found a plate of fried human flesh on a dining
table set with cutlery. They also discovered more flesh in a
refrigerator and human bones in a cereal box.
Galeana's mutilated body was stashed in a bedroom closet.
Calva denied cannibalism but had said he killed Galeana
after an argument. He said he cut her body up to get rid of it
but then decided to cook parts to feed them to dogs, according
to Mexico City prosecutors.
Calva wrote poetry and had earned a living selling his work
on the streets.
The unfinished "Cannibal Instincts" book carried a cover
photo of a man who looked like Calva wearing a mask similar to
the one worn by Anthony Hopkins in the 'Hannibal Lecter' films,
starting with the 1991 Oscar winner "Silence of the Lambs".
In his apartment, police also found books on black magic
and copies of the Hannibal Lecter movies, which tell the tale
of a genius serial killer who eats his victims.
(Reporting by Chris Aspin, Editing by Sandra Maler and Frances
Kerry)
