Grindr Date Ends in Murder and Beheading in Lisbon

Lisbon — The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) announced a major breakthrough Friday night in the Pátio do Salema beheading case, arresting a 27-year-old foreigner man, some report a student. The arrest followed a macabre incident on Thursday afternoon when the suspect walked into São José Hospital carrying a plastic bag containing what medical staff believe is the victim's severed head.

Hospital security immediately alerted police, who detained the man on site. He initially claimed to have found the head in a rubbish skip but confessed to murder, decapitation, and concealment of a corpse after being confronted with CCTV evidence that placed him with the victim.

A Dating-App Encounter Turns Deadly

Investigators report the suspect met the victim, who remains officially unidentified, through the dating app Grindr. The two arranged to meet in the early hours of Wednesday, 30 July, and went to the suspect’s rented studio on Rua da Palma. Inspector-Coordinator Artur Correia stated that a “violent argument about ending the date” escalated to murder. Police believe the weapon was a kitchen cleaver recovered from the apartment.

Following the killing, at approximately 05:40, the suspect moved the victim’s torso to the nearby Pátio do Salema, leaving it behind restaurant recycling bins where it was discovered around 06:00. He kept the head in his apartment for nearly two days before panicking and taking it to the hospital on 1 August, telling staff he felt ill from the smell. The suspect signed a full confession at 22:30 that evening.

Charges and Forensic Investigation

The Public Prosecutor's Office is pursuing charges of qualified homicide, desecration of a corpse, and possession of an illegal weapon. The suspect is scheduled for an arraignment at the Lisbon Central Criminal Court on Monday, 4 August, where an examining magistrate will decide on pre-trial detention.

Meanwhile, forensic odontologists are working to confirm the victim’s identity using dental records. Police have contacted Interpol after a partial fingerprint matched a Spanish national reported missing by friends in Madrid. A formal identification is expected within the next 48 hours.

Community Shock and Safety Concerns

The murder has sent shockwaves through the community. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups expressed outrage and sadness, with ILGA Portugal issuing a statement urging users of dating apps to share their meeting locations with friends and to arrange first dates in public places. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas described the killing as “an appalling and isolated crime” and pledged to expand night patrols in nightlife districts and improve the integration of CCTV systems.

Police are still appealing for information to build a complete picture of the victim’s final hours. Anyone who may have seen two men together near Rua da Palma or Pátio do Salema between 03:00 and 06:00 on the morning of 30 July is encouraged to contact the PJ’s anonymous tip-line at 808 200 800.