Episode 136: A Dark Path to Fame - The Murder of Jun Lin

Montreal, Canada in 2012 was full of civil unrest. Between college protests and corrupt government officials, the city was full of tension. Among its residents was Jun Lin, a Chinese international student who came from China to attend college and brighten his future. At 33 years old, he was studying computer engineering while working at a corner store to help with the ever rising tuition fees. A great student, generous, kind and reliable, Jun Lin was someone you could count on to put a smile on your face per his family and friends. Unfortunately, Jun Lin disappeared on May 24, 2012. The same day he was reported missing to the police on May 29, several more disturbing calls had come into the station of Montreal and to Ottawa police.  Body parts found in a suitcase and packages mailed to Canadian pollical party offices. An autopsy confirmed all the body parts belonged to Jun Lin. The investigation uncovered disturbing videos, a man desperate for fame and an international manhunt. With the help of authorities overseas, the suspect of Jun’s murder was caught and extradited back to Canada to be prosecuted. Cases like these make us wonder: why is it those with the gentlest souls happen upon such evil?   Sources: “Interpol hunt 'killer' porn actor Luka Rocco Magnotta” on BBC News on May 31, 2012 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18284242) “Canadian police reveal identity of victim in grisly body parts killing” by Moni Basu on CNN World on June 1, 2012 (https://www.cnn.com/2012/06/01/world/americas/canada-body-parts-investigatiion) “Magnotta Investigators Buried in Tips” by Brian Daly in The Tribune on June 2, 2012 “Luka Magnotta Case: Body Parts Allegedly Mailed to Vancouver School Confirmed as Match” by ABC News on ABC News on June 14, 2012 (https://abcnews.go.com/US/luka-magnotta-case-body-parts-mailed-vancouver-school/story?id=16564247) “Police Confirm Head is Jun Lin’s” by Brian Daly in The North Bay Nugget on July 5, 2012 “Human head found in Montreal park belonged to homicide victim Jun Lin: police” by Andy Blatchford, The Canadian Press on Global News on July 5, 2012 (https://globalnews.ca/news/263150/human-head-found-in-montreal-park-belonged-to-homicide-victim-jun-lin-police-4/) “Victim’s Mother Develops Sympathy for Magnotta” by Sidhartha Banerjee in The Calgary Herald on July 27, 2012 “Luka Magnotta murder trial begins in Montreal” on BBC News on September 30, 2014 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29414302) “Lin Family Mourns, Thanks” by Eric Thibault in The Kingston Whig – Standard on June 13, 2012 “Luka Magnotta guilty of 1st-degree murder in Jun Lin's slaying” by CBC News on CBC News on December 23, 2014 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/luka-magnotta-guilty-of-1st-degree-murder-in-jun-lin-s-slaying-1.2875989) “"Canadian Cannibal" found guilty of murdering his lover” on ABC 6 Action News on December 23, 2014 (https://6abc.com/post/canadian-cannibal-found-guilty-of-murder/447996/) “Luka Magnotta trial: Jun Lin's family still haunted by horrific death” by CBC News on CBC News on December 23, 2014 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/luka-magnotta-trial-jun-lin-s-family-still-haunted-by-horrific-death-1.2882560) “Luka Magnotta: Canada porn actor jailed for Jun Lin murder” on BBC News on December 23, 2014 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30590106) “Where is Luka Magnotta now? Here's what we know about the Quebec prison he's locked up in” by Al Sciola on MTL Blog on June 14, 2025 (https://www.mtlblog.com/luka-magnotta-now-2025-prison?utm_source=chatgpt.com) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/14/body-parts-vancouver-jun-lin “Sex, Fame and Murder – The Luka Magnotta Story” on Amazon Prime