Body parts suspect may have recorded video of slaying

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, suspect in the grisly slaying and dismemberment of a victim whose body parts were sent in the mail, including a foot sent in a package to Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa.

Montreal police said Wednesday that Magnotta is wanted for homicide in connection with sending body parts through the mail and the discovery of a torso behind a low-rise apartment rented by the suspect in west-end Montreal, near the Décarie Expressway.

Police said Magnotta knew the person whose torso was found in a suitcase in a pile of garbage in Montreal on Tuesday, but they have yet to identify the victim.

Sources have told CBC News that police believe they have evidence of the suspect videotaping the killing and dismembering of the victim.

A hand was found in a package addressed to the Liberal Party of Canada at a Canada Post terminal before it could be delivered.

Magnotta, believed to be originally from Toronto, is also known as Eric Clinton Newman and as Vladimir Romanov. Police describe him as five feet 10 inches tall and 135 pounds with black hair and blue eyes.

Building manager Eric Schorer said Magnotta had lived there for four months but hadn't been seen around in a while. He said there were never any complaints about noise in the unit, and that Magnotta passed a credit test to rent there.

Police in masks combed through the blood-soaked apartment Wednesday, having zeroed in on the source of a stench like rotting meat, said a building resident.

A neighbour said police were showing neighbours pictures of two men — the suspected victim and the homicide suspect.

Montreal police said Magnotta was not known to them and had no criminal record. CBC News has learned, however, that he was convicted on four counts of fraud in Ontario in 2005. He served 16 days in pre-trial custody and was given a further nine-month conditional sentence and 12 months probation.

The suspect's name has also come up in association with videos showing the killing of kittens. A CBC News source said police are also investigating a possible connection between the suspect and Karla Homolka.

A website is also claiming it has posted video of a killing that is possibly linked to the suspect.

Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafrenière said he would not substantiate internet rumours about the suspect.

"We don't conduct our investigations via social media," he said.

The discovery of the torso was believed to be linked to the foot sent to Conservative headquarters and a hand found at a Canada Post terminal that was addressed to the Liberal Party of Canada headquarters.

Lafrenière did not deny the second package was addressed to the Liberal Party, but told CBC's Evan Solomon on Power and Politics that it would be incorrect to link the actions to a political motive.

"I've been a police officer for more than 20 years now, and I met officers that were doing an investigation for more than 30 years, and they said they never saw a scene like that," said Lafrenière

"So it would be hard for me to say there is a political reason for this," he said.

The hand and foot mailed to Ottawa were sent from a fake Montreal address, police said. Police also said there were other body parts sent by mail that they are still investigating.

Lafrenière described the scene of the alleged crime as "horrible" but said investigators would be releasing few details for now.

"The most important thing for us is to nab the suspect, and to make sure we don't jeopardize a future trial. I'd have a lot of trouble, as a father, to sleep if that happened."

The foot was discovered Tuesday after Ottawa police were called to the Conservative Party of Canada headquarters at 130 Albert St.

A party spokesman told CBC News the package was brought to Jenni Byrne, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of political operations. She examined the package after it was opened, he said, but called police when she saw the blood and smelled the odour.

"Conservative Party staff are very upset and disturbed by what happened yesterday. It was such a horrible odour I'm sure many of us will never forget it," said Fred DeLorey, director of communications for the party.

The hazardous materials unit was called in and the coroner soon confirmed the package contained a human foot that was partially decomposed.