Homicide and Dismemberment, Body Parts and Trophies: Exploring Sarxenthymiophilia

Whilst existing research literature contains numerous entries regarding the collection of souvenirs and trophies, as a behaviour involved in homicide and, particularly, serial killing, within that literature little attention has been given to the collection of body parts. Although noted as an example of a trophy that an offender might take from a victim, the sexual significance of that behaviour remains largely unexplored, even though several notable cases have involved such activity. A case is presented of an offender who dismembered victims and desired to keep parts he had amputated. The sexual significance of that desire is explored here to demonstrate the behaviour can be considered necrophilic in nature.