A Danish inventor admits he dismembered the body of Swedish freelance journalist Kim Wall, who was last seen aboard his self-built submarine for a story about his venture, according to NPR.
Peter Madsen is charged with murdering the 30-year-old freelance journalist, CNN reported. "Police added an additional charge — sexual assault without intercourse — in light of some 14 stab wounds in and around Wall's genitals," according to the NPR story. Madsen denies all accusations against him.
Madsen, who was rescued alone from his sinking UC3 Nautilus submarine on Aug. 11, has changed his story a couple of times. Authorities believe Madsen purposely sank the submarine.
Wall's boyfriend first reported her missing in the early morning hours of Aug. 11. when she didn't return home from her meeting with Madsen.
"He [Madsen] initially claimed that he dropped Wall off safely the same day they set out — then he changed his story, saying he 'buried her at sea' after a heavy hatch fell on her head," the NPR story said.
Divers later found Wall's severed head in Denmark's Køge Bay, NPR reported. Police said there were "no signs of fracture or blunt force trauma to the skull," casting doubt on Madsen's claims. The head was in a bag weighted down with metal, authorities said.
"This explanation, of course, causes police to want to get further supplemental statements from the medical examiner, as well from the defense ministry's submarine experts," chief investigator Jens Moeller Jensen said in a statement.
On Aug. 21, a headless female torso washed ashore. A couple of days later, DNA evidence confirmed that the body belonged to Wall.
Now, Madsen is claiming that Wall died from carbon monoxide poisoning while he was on deck. During an interrogation on Oct. 14, Madsen told police he dismembered her body after she died and threw the remains in the bay.
Prosecutors found footage depicting women being decapitated alive on a hard drive in Madsen's possession. Madsen said the hard drive did not belong to him, according to the BBC.
Madsen was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, but the hearing has been postponed. He has agreed to remain in custody through Nov. 15.
Aug. 10, 7 p.m.: Kim Wall meets Madsen and boards homemade submarine
Aug. 10, midnight: Submarine is sighted
Aug. 11, 2:30 a.m.: Police notified that Wall is missing
Aug. 11, 10:30 a.m.: Submarine sighted from lighthouse
Aug. 11, 11 a.m.: Submarine sank
Aug. 21, 3:41 p.m.: Wall's body was found
Oct. 6: Wall's severed head found
Oct. 14: Madsen tells police he dismembered Wall's body
Oct. 31: Madsen expected to appear in court
