Matricide with pathological cannibalism: an unusual forensic case report

Human cannibalism, or anthropophagy, refers to the consumption of human flesh or internal organs and represents one of the rarest and most extreme manifestations of violent behaviour. Historically, human cannibalism is associated with ritualistic or survival contexts, but in the modern context, it is primarily linked to severe psychiatric illness and extreme forms of paraphilias. Pathological cannibalism with matricide is extremely rare, and perpetrators are predominantly male, often with serious underlying psychiatric illness. Rarely, it may be associated with chronic substance abuse and impulsive behavior, with no evidence of active psychosis. We report a rare case of matricide followed by pathological cannibalism in which a 62-year-old woman was murdered by her 35-year-old son during a domestic altercation. The perpetrator had a history of chronic alcohol and cannabis abuse and attacked his mother with a sharp-edged weapon following a verbal provocation, inflicting fatal injuries to the neck. After the homicide, he eviscerated the deceased's organs and seasoned them with oil and spices, and intended to cook them for consumption, showing features of cannibalistic activity. Psychological evaluation of the perpetrator showed traits of aggression, irritability, and detachment without any evidence of active psychosis, suggesting substance-induced impulsivity rather than chronic mental illness. The sequence of events and injury pattern classified the case as homicidal cannibalism, which is characterized by deliberate killing followed by flesh consumption. This case highlights the complex interplay between cannibalism, matricide, and substance abuse, showing how familial conflict and child abuse can drive extreme violence, and underscores the need for integrated forensic and psychiatric evaluation to determine the motive, intent, and criminal responsibility.