James David Russell killed David Flaget, 70.
He then microwaved parts of his body and ate them. In April 2022, Russell was deemed fit to stand trial and is awaiting a trail date.
Police responded to the call to investigate a homicide to siblings Mark and Elizabeth Russell’s property at 168 Lower Mosquito Creek Road, Clark Fork, Idaho.
When they arrived, they were told that their nephew James Russell may have been responsible.
Police located Russell close to the property. After a short foot pursuit, Russell was detained and brought in for questioning.
Police then focused on the pickup truck, which was locked, and had no keys.
David was found naked from the waist down. His left wrist was still bound with duct tape. He had obvious trauma to his body.
According to court documents, “evidence of postmortem mayhem was present along the right thing, anus, and genitalia.”
According to police reports, investigators found “suspected human flesh, latex gloves, bloody newspaper, bloody pieces of duct tape, cutting implements with suspected blood, and several areas of blood,” in the initial report.
Police believe David was killed by trauma to the head and neck. Russell then cut portions of him, put them in a glass bowl, which he then microwaved.
According to Russell’s mental health history, he believed that eating human flesh would heal him. Russell was committed to a mental facility for 6 months. In April 2022, Russell had a competency hearing to see if he is fit to stand trial.
He has been deemed fit to stand trial and is awaiting a trial date. Russell has been charged with first degree murder and cannibalism and is being held on $5 million bond.
