Make no mistake: despite the pervasiveness of the internet, the best, most comprehensive versions of stories are still told in books.
One example of this is Lois Jones’ amazing book Cannibal (2005). I read the book years ago, and it came back to my mind when I saw Ms. Jones in a new documentary about Armin Meiwes. I decided to drop her a line to see if she’d be interested in doing an interview; luckily for us, she said yes.
Thank you, Lois, for taking the time to speak to ForenSeek!
Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Lois Jones. I’m Welsh, a journalist, writer and author, currently based in Bavaria. I’m the proud mother of two. And a vegetarian!
How did you first learn about the Meiwes case?
I was working for Bloomberg News as a correspondent in Munich and had seen the headlines. Then I heard via a colleague that Berkley, a subsidiary of Penguin Publishing was looking for a journalist to write a book about the case.
What drew you to it? Why was it interesting to you?
The psychological aspect. I found and still find it hard to believe that something like this really happened in today’s society. To outward appearances, Armin Meiwes seemed harmless yet he had unbelievably dark fantasies. It shocked and scared me to think that there are people like him out there, that I might be passing someone in say the supermarket with such dark thoughts.
In your words: who is Armin Meiwes, and why is he infamous?
Armin Meiwes was a lonely, troubled man who sought to consume i.e. cannibalize a man to have a companion with him always. He thought he had to eat somebody in order for that person to “become a part of me.”
How early in his life did these cannibalistic urges start? What do you think gave rise to them?
Meiwes’ cannibalistic urges started at the age of eight and then worsened after the death of his mother. He felt lonely and neglected as a child after his father left the family and craved to have a blond “younger brother” who he could always keep with him by consuming him.
Meiwes’ mother was married and divorced twice. Both of her ex-husbands cited mental cruelty as the reason behind their divorce.
There is an entire online subculture of people with similar fantasies. In researching your book, what did you learn about this subculture?
I was shocked that this dark online world existed and flabbergasted that there were so many people out there who shared these types of fantasies and who could find each other via the Internet. What I learned is that for these people cannibalism was merely a fantasy, while for Armin Meiwes it was something he wanted to act out in reality.
Meiwes was involved with this subculture, and ultimately found a “willing victim”. How did Meiwes and Brandes connect? What was their plan?
Yes, Meiwes found his perfect match via an online chat forum after Meiwes posted an internet advert, looking for a “young well-built man, who wanted to be eaten.” Brandes, a voluntary victim, replied. He wanted to be killed, castrated and eaten in order to self-destruct.
Again, in your investigator’s own words: who was Bernd Brandes?
He was the only child of a wealthy family. His mother committed suicide while the family was on holiday in Sylt, which caused anxiety in Brandes and interpersonal difficulties. His father cut off contact with him when he came out.
He had the “reverse” fantasy when compared to that of Meiwes: Brandes wanted to be eaten. Did you find out what led to this fantasy? How long had he entertained it before actively seeking to live it out?
He wanted to be castrated following a negative relationship with his stepmother and was consumed with self-hatred for his sexual orientation. He solicited the services of male prostitutes for several years before meeting Meiwes and one reported that Brandes had asked him to castrate him although he had refused.
How did Brandes prepare for his trip to Rotenburg? Did he leave a last will or “goodbye letter”?
His boyfriend said he did not notice anything different. The day before he left to go to Meiwes, Brandes sold his car, wiped all the files from his computer and left a handwritten note to his boyfriend, Rene, leaving him all his property.
Your book is beautifully written, and full of moments that just burn themselves into the reader’s soul. One such moment is when you describe Brandes’ train ride to meet Meiwes. A fellow traveler saw Brandes on the train and described him as having this empty look in his eyes. What do you think was going through his mind?
Thank you so much for saying that! I think Brandes wanted to be “empty” – he was consumed with the idea of disappearing, of self-annihilation and this was at last about to happen.
Meiwes picked up Brandes from the train station, and the two drove to Meiwes’ house. People can read more about what happened there from your book, but there’s a specific moment I wanted to ask you about. The “moment of hesitation”. Tell us about this!
Brandes drank a whole of bottle of Night Nurse, a flu remedy, but it didn’t make him drowsy so he got frustrated and decided to go back home as he thought that Meiwes couldn’t go through with it.
Meiwes ultimately killed Brandes and ate his flesh over a period of several months, often toasting Brandes with a glass of wine before beginning his meal. How did the police eventually catch Meiwes?
After consuming Brandes, Meiwes continued to look online for another victim. He boasted about what he had done on cannibal sites. A student who came across this altered the police, who searched Meiwes’ house and discovered the evidence.
Where is Meiwes now? Do you think there’s a chance of him being released one day?
He is serving a life sentence in prison, although he is allowed to leave the prison and walk the streets in disguise as part of a prison release scheme. I hope he is never released – he has my last address from when I wrote to him in prison!
What was it like researching and writing your book?
It was completely fascinating when I saw it as a “story”. Then I would have a reality check and realise that this actually happened in real life and I would have frequently have to take walks in the sunshine to centre myself – particularly after reading the gruesome online content from chat forums.
Have you thought about returning to “dark history” topics in future books?
I would absolutely love to write another book and wouldn’t exclude writing a “dark history” topic but would prefer something lighter to be honest!
What are you currently working on?
I work as a journalist – no books at the moment but as I said I would love to write another one and preferably soon!
Where can people keep up with you and your work?
Via LinkedIn or email: loishoyal@gmail.com
And finally, my regular questions.
Your top 3 films?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; Il Postino; Little Miss Sunshine.
Your top 3 books?
The Little Prince; The Second Sex; The Tin Drum.
Your top 3 albums?
Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits; The Smiths – The Queen is Dead; Giant Sand – Chore of Enchantment.
