In February 2008, in Leer, northern Germany, the murder of Bianca Brust, a 27-year-old medical assistant, was committed by Matthias Schoormann, a 32-year-old unemployed mechanic. This case not only highlighted the dangers of unprocessed rejection but also exposed the dark corners of the internet, where graphic images of the crime were shared even before the police intervened and known as the "black metal killer," Schoormann mixed elements of his musical subculture with a misogynistic rage, leaving a legacy of horror that still resonates in discussions about gender violence and mental health.

On the night of February 20, 2008, Matthias invited Bianca to his apartment in Leer under the pretense of a friendly conversation. It was yet another desperate attempt to win her over after years of rejection. According to police reconstructions, the argument escalated rapidly when Bianca reiterated that there was no romantic interest. Enraged, Schoormann attacked her, strangling her to death with his hands during an intense struggle.

But the horror didn't stop there. In an act of extreme sadism, he decapitated Bianca's body using a knife or machete, inspired, according to some accounts, by violent images of Mexican cartels circulating online. He then posed the headless body in explicit and sexual positions, taking graphic photographs documenting the macabre scene. Schoormann manipulated the head separately, creating images that blended necrophilia and humiliation.

Around 1 a.m. on February 21st, still in the throes of his disturbed euphoria, Schoormann accessed an online forum dedicated to gore and extremist content – ​​a site where he was an inactive member under pseudonyms like “I H8 U” or “Karathorn.” He created a thread titled “Dead Whore” and posted the photos, accompanied by sadistic descriptions and calls for violence against women. The forum administrator questioned their veracity, leading Schoormann to quickly delete the images. However, copies had already been saved by curious users, and the photos leaked to other corners of the dark web.

To cover up the crime, Schoormann set his apartment on fire, creating a distraction while he fled. He took his red Ford Escort, placing Bianca's head in a backpack on the passenger seat, along with her documents. A neighbor noticed the flames and the suspicious car, immediately alerting the police and firefighters.

Matthias Schoormann



Bianca Brust