What followed was perhaps the most disturbing chapter of all. Sagawa became a minor celebrity in Japan. He wrote several books, including a novel titled In the Fog (which fictionalizes the murder) and a memoir, Konnichiwa, Watashi wa Issei Desu (“Hello, I’m Issei”). He contributed restaurant reviews, appeared on talk shows, gave interviews, and even served as a commentator on crime analysis. He was both reviled and morbidly celebrated—a “real-life Hannibal Lecter” who walked the streets of Tokyo.
On the evening of June 15, Sagawa dragged the heavy suitcase to a taxi, telling the driver he was moving luggage. He took a train to the Bois de Boulogne, a large public park on the edge of Paris. But he was exhausted, and the suitcase was too cumbersome to carry far. He left it in some bushes and returned to his apartment. Hours later, a park worker noticed a foul odor and flies swarming around the abandoned suitcase. Police were called. When they opened it, they found the remains of Renée Hartevelt. The contents also included business cards and a key that led investigators directly to Sagawa’s apartment. issei sagawa suitcase
On June 11, 1981, Sagawa invited a 25-year-old Dutch classmate, Renée Hartevelt, to his apartment for dinner. He claimed he needed her help with German translation for his studies, offering to pay her for her time. Hartevelt, an intelligent and friendly student, agreed. What followed was perhaps the most disturbing chapter of all