A Chilean inmate confessed to killing his cellmate with a knife and then consuming parts of his body, including an eye, a hand, and an ear, authorities have reported. The confession, delivered to a security guard shortly after the alleged murder, was a chillingly brief: “Boss, I killed him.”
Manuel Ignacio Fuentes, 21, currently incarcerated at La Serena prison for aggravated robbery, is accused of the killing of Felipe Sepulveda, 26, a fellow inmate serving time for theft. The incident came to light on February 8th following a radio alert regarding an altercation within the cell, according to reports from Diario El Dia.
Fuentes initially told investigators that a fight broke out after Sepulveda allegedly attacked him with a knife. He claimed self-defense, stating he retaliated with a knife of his own, stabbing Sepulveda in the neck. “I stabbed him in the neck and he started convulsing,” Fuentes reportedly said. “That’s when I started checking his vital signs, specifically his neck and heart, and I realised he was dead. I’ll just say it was in self-defence.”
The account then details a disturbing sequence of events. Fuentes allegedly panicked after realizing Sepulveda was dead and began to eat portions of his cellmate’s remains. “I started to panic over what I had done and began to eat parts of his body,” he reportedly confessed. “I took out one of his eyes and ate it, as well as a piece of his hand and his neck. After that, I ate one of his ears. After a while, I covered him up and fell asleep next to him.”
Fuentes has a prior criminal history, having been arrested in 2022 for armed robbery and briefly escaping from prison in 2023 before being recaptured. His father has publicly stated that Fuentes suffers from a diagnosed neuropsychiatric condition and requires specialized medical attention and medication, according to Meganoticias.
Fuentes’ girlfriend, Ashely San Martin, has also reportedly noted a decline in her partner’s mental health in recent times. His mother, Paola Martinez, issued a public apology to Sepulveda’s family, expressing her sorrow and suggesting that there were underlying reasons for her son’s actions that necessitate to be investigated, as reported by Meganoticias. “I offer my sincerest apologies and ask for forgiveness for what happened,” she said. “I know it’s unforgivable, but I know my son didn’t imply to do it, and there must be sufficient reasons, which will obviously have to be clarified.”
Authorities have not released further details regarding the ongoing investigation or Fuentes’ current mental state. No statement has been issued regarding potential changes to prison security protocols following the incident.
