34 years ago, on November 30, a brutal murder in the United States sent shockwaves that still remain one of the most macabre episodes in modern criminal history. This is the case of Omaima Aree Nelson, known as the 'California Cannibal.' Her crime, committed over the Thanksgiving weekend of 1991, revealed an extreme act of violence, manipulation, and horror. At the time, the film 'The Silence of the Lambs' was playing in theaters, and Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hannibal Lecter was all the rage. Omaima, a 23-year-old Egyptian model, was arrested after being accused of murdering, dismembering, and cooking parts of her husband Bill Nelson's body. They had been married for less than a month. Judge Robert Fitzgerald sentenced her to 27 years to life in prison. In 2006, her parole was denied, and she suffered another legal setback in 2011. In 2012, 21 years after the crime, the American series 'Happily Never After' dedicated its fifth episode to reconstructing the case under the title 'Devoured by Love.' During the trial, Omaima attempted a defense based on alleged abuse and mistreatment by Nelson. One of her former boyfriends, who could not tolerate what she was doing and knew about it, reported the situation by calling 911. On December 1, police found human remains in Nelson's car, who was already missing. The couple lived together in Nelson's home, a pilot by profession, in the state of California. According to experts, on November 28, 1991, Omaima attacked her husband with scissors, causing puncture and cutting wounds to his chest and abdomen. However, her version failed to convince the jury or Orange County prosecutor Randy Pawloski. After six days of deliberation, the jury found her guilty of second-degree murder. Although Nelson tried to defend himself, she finished him off by hitting him with an iron, causing his death. Then she began her cover-up plan: she dismembered the body in the kitchen, boiled the hands to remove fingerprints, froze the head to extract the teeth, and prepared parts of the body. According to a forensic psychiatrist, she cooked the ribs with barbecue sauce, glazed the meat, and even bit into it. The investigation determined that she also intended to castrate the body. The plan fell through when Omaima asked two of her ex-boyfriends for help to get rid of the remains. Those who evaluated her case stated that she continued to be dangerous to herself and others, did not take responsibility for her actions, and would not be a productive citizen out of prison. When they searched the home, they found more evidence in the refrigerator. Despite having remarried in prison, she maintains her innocence and denies having consumed any part of her husband's body. In 2026, she will again have the opportunity to request parole.
