A murderer, Gary Heidnik, responded provocatively to inquiries about a foul odor emanating from his residence while he was cooking one of his victim’s heads on the stove. Heidnik, likened to the infamous character Jame ‘Buffalo Bill’ Gumb from Silence of the Lambs, held six women captive in a pit in his basement, subjecting them to physical and sexual abuse before killing two of them.
Neighbors noticed a disturbing smell coming from Heidnik’s home, but he dismissed their concerns, attributing it to his cooking. Despite police intervention due to the strong odor, Heidnik remained nonchalant, claiming he had burnt his roast. The discovery of Heidnik’s atrocities occurred when one victim managed to escape, leading to the revelation of a horrifying scene in his home – a torture chamber where three women were found chained in a basement pit, with two others already dead.
Heidnik’s heinous acts began in 1986 when he abducted his first victim from the streets and imprisoned her in his basement, where he later added more victims. Reports revealed that he brutalized the women, barely keeping them alive with low-quality pet food and forcing them to harm each other. He subjected the victims to extreme punishments, including hanging one woman for days until she died.
The capture of Heidnik was triggered by a victim’s courageous escape and report to the authorities. Upon investigation of his home, police officers were met with a chilling sight of women in distress. Heidnik’s trial attempted to argue his insanity, but his amassed wealth through financial investments contradicted this defense. He was ultimately convicted of multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, and rape, leading to his execution in 1999.