The first picture has been released of 24-year-old Maria Sacaenu, who was murdered inside an Oldbury Airbnb by a forensics student obsessed with the US crime drama Dexter.
Benjamin Day, 20, has admitted murdering Maria after initially pleading not guilty and beginning a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
The University of Worcester student changed his plea to guilty on the second day of proceedings on October 6.
He will be sentenced in December and faces a mandatory life sentence.
Maria Was Originally From Romania
Maria, who was originally from Romania, was working as a sex worker when she came into contact with Day.
Prosecutors said Day used a burner phone to arrange for her to attend the Airbnb he had rented on Barncroft Road in Oldbury.
She arrived at the property last December.
Police said that within a very short time of her arrival, Day had killed her.
Stabbed 78 Times
A post-mortem examination found Maria had suffered 78 stab wounds.
The prosecution said Day then began the process of dismembering her body.
A Home Office pathologist previously indicated that wounds to Maria’s neck were likely to have caused her death.
She also suffered injuries to her hands which were consistent with attempts to defend herself.
Bedroom Covered In Plastic Sheeting
West Midlands Police said Day had prepared the Airbnb room in advance.
The bedroom floor, walls and bed had all been covered in plastic sheeting, which was secured to the walls with staples.
Officers also discovered a canvas knife roll containing numerous knives, a staple gun and duct tape.
Other items included an apron, plastic visor and cleaning materials.
Police Say Murder Was Planned In ‘Meticulous Detail’
Detective Inspector Matt Marston, from West Midlands Police’s major crime team, said Day had developed an obsession with the character Dexter.
The fictional character works in forensics while secretly committing murders.
DI Marston said: “Day had an obsessive personality and had become obsessed with the character Dexter.
“He planned this murder in meticulous detail.”
He described Maria as a defenceless woman who had been deliberately lured to the rented room.
Day Had Prepared Shopping List
During his trial, prosecutors said Day had begun preparing for the killing more than a month beforehand.
A shopping list stored on his phone included knives, scissors, disposable gloves, plastic sheeting, duct tape, cleaning products, a staple gun and heavy-duty bin bags.
The court was told the items on the list were found at the property.
Day was studying applied biology and forensics at the University of Worcester.
Injured Hand Led To His Capture
Day suffered an injury to his hand during the attack.
After leaving the property, he eventually made contact with emergency services and was taken to Russells Hall Hospital.
Police said he initially gave officers a fabricated explanation for the injury.
Claimed He Was Attacked By Fox
Day told officers that he had been attacked by a fox or wild dog.
Body-worn footage shown during the trial captured him maintaining the story as officers questioned how his hand had been injured.
He later accepted that the wound had been caused by a knife.
Police said officers became suspicious of his explanation and he was detained.
Arrested In Hospital
Day was arrested at Russells Hall Hospital at around 3.42am on December 21.
Meanwhile, another person staying at the Airbnb had noticed blood inside the property.
Police were called and Maria’s body was discovered inside the prepared room.
‘Details Shocked Experienced Officers’
DI Marston said even experienced investigators had been shocked by what they encountered during the case.
“The details of this case shocked experienced officers and our thoughts continue to go out to the heartbroken family of Maria at this time,” he said.
Day remains in custody ahead of sentencing in December.
