The Cannibal

Joe Metheny, also known as "The Cannibal," was a convicted American serial killer whose crimes shocked the public due to their brutality, disturbing motivations, and alleged acts of cannibalism. His case is notable not just for violence, but for the killer’s own candid and chilling confessions.

Metheny was described as highly intelligent but troubled. He claimed to have had a neglected and abusive childhood, though his mother later denied this. He served in the U.S. Army but it’s unclear whether he actually served in Vietnam, as he claimed.

Metheny claimed that after killing Magaziner and Spicer, he butchered their bodies and mixed their flesh into pork sandwiches.

He said he served them to unsuspecting customers from a roadside barbecue stand he operated near his trailer. Investigators found no physical evidence of cannibalism, but Metheny never recanted the story.

Metheny’s Confessions:

He confessed to up to 10 murders but was only convicted of two.

His confessions were cold, detailed, and emotionless, and he claimed he killed for “the fun of it.” “I don’t know why I killed. I didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t get any thrill out of it, but I kept doing it anyway.”

Confirmed Victims

Cathy Ann Magaziner, age 39. Disappeared: July 1994. Confirmed Murder: December 1994 Metheny confessed to luring her to his trailer with promises of drugs and sex. He strangled her and buried her in a shallow grave. Later, he dug up the remains, removed the skull, and kept it in his trailer.

Kimberly Spicer, age 23. Murdered in November of 1995. She was also lured to Metheny’s trailer under the pretense of drugs. Spicer was stabbed to death. He attempted to hide her body at the pallet company where he worked.

Surviving Victim

Rita Kemper, Metheny tried to rape and kill Kemper in December of 1996. She escaped by climbing over a barbed-wire fence and running to the police. Kemper’s escape led Metheny’s arrest.

Joe Metheny "The Cannibal"