Where is Luka Magnotta now, and what’s his life really like behind bars?
More than a decade after being convicted of one of Canada’s most infamous murders, Magnotta is (thankfully) still in prison. But the life he’s living might be more comfortable than you’d expect.
While most people know him from the 2012 headlines or the 2019 Netflix documentary that covered his case, less attention has been paid to what’s happened since. Over the years, he’s changed prisons, reportedly changed his name, gotten married, and settled into a new routine behind bars.
Based on recent reports and confirmed correctional records, here’s what we know about Luka Magnotta today — from where he’s serving his sentence to how he spends his days in 2025.
This article contains graphic content that might not be suitable for some readers.
Who is Luka Magnotta?
Luka Magnotta, born Eric Newman in 1982, grew up in Scarborough, Ontario. Before he was known around the world, he worked as a part-time model, dabbled in adult films, and even made a brief appearance on reality TV. He legally changed his name to Luka Rocco Magnotta in 2006.
Online, he built a carefully crafted persona and seemed obsessed with attention, often popping up in internet rumours and strange online communities years before his crimes came to light.
By 2012, he was believed to be living in an apartment in Montreal.
According to Global News, during Magnotta’s trial back in 2014, his father described their home life as difficult and isolating, mentioning struggles with alcohol on both sides of the family.
“There was a lot of trouble,” he said, adding that his son had no real friends and very little formal education. “No schooling, no friends of any kind.”
What crimes did he commit?
Magnotta was convicted of killing and dismembering 33-year-old Chinese student Jun Lin in May 2012. A viral internet video titled “1 Lunatic, 1 Ice Pick” showed the then-29-year-old killing Lin and mutilating his body. The crime, which later involved the killer mailing body parts to political offices and schools, sparked an international manhunt and significant media coverage.
Magnotta, who was living in Montreal at the time, fled Canada shortly after the murder and was arrested days later in Berlin, Germany, after being recognized in an internet café.
The case gained renewed attention years later through the 2019 Netflix documentary Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer which detailed the online sleuthing that helped identify Magnotta and bring him to justice
Magnotta was found guilty in 2014 of first-degree murder and several related charges. He was then sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Where is Luka Magnotta today?
Originally held at Quebec’s maximum‑security Port‑Cartier Institution, Magnotta first requested a transfer to a lower‑security setting in 2021. In 2020, his mother, Anna Yourkin, petitioned for his release amid a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, but the request was denied.
However, he eventually got his wish.
According to a transfer warrant , Magnotta was moved to La Macaza Institution in 2022. The Quebec facility, located about 90 minutes northwest of Montreal, also houses infamous Canadian serial killer Paul Bernardo.
In early 2024, the Toronto Sun reported Magnotta’s transfer and noted that he began going by the name Violette after identifying as transgender, reportedly seeking more specialized support in a medium-security setting.
Is Luka Magnotta living comfortably in prison?
In early 2024, reports revealed that La Macaza facility offers a surprisingly varied routine for inmates. Recreational options reportedly include billiards tables, tennis and basketball courts, and even a hockey rink.
Inmates can also receive family visits and take part in correctional programs intended to support rehabilitation.
Conservative MP Frank Caputo toured the facility, which primarily houses sex offenders, in 2024 and described it as resembling a “university campus.”
“[Magnotta] and Paul Bernardo could actually be playing tennis, one-on-one, in the summertime,” Caputo said in a video, criticizing the conditions. “One of the worst criminals in Canadian history is actually living better than most Canadians.”
Has he spoken publicly?
Magnotta has remained largely silent since his 2014 conviction, but he did offer a glimpse into his mindset through handwritten letters sent from prison.
In 2015, the Toronto Sun published excerpts of his letters, revealing surprisingly candid reflections on life behind bars.
In one letter obtained by Global News, he wrote about hanging up “beautiful photos” and “encouraging cards from people around the world.” He also revealed he uses money orders sent to him for things like junk food and personal care items from the prison canteen.
Magnotta’s mother co-authored the book, My Son, The Killer: The Untold Story of Luka Magnotta and “1 Lunatic 1 Ice Pick” with journalist Bryan Whitney in 2018. It features exclusive interviews and photos of the inmate.
Is Luka Magnotta married?
Back in 2017, Magnotta married fellow Port-Cartier inmate Anthony Jolin. The ceremony took place on June 26 of that year, with Magnotta’s mother serving as the official witness.
While the two don’t live together, correctional guidelines allow for occasional conjugal visits. Both prisoners were reportedly transferred to the same facility following Magnotta’s 2022 security reclassification.
Is he eligible for parole?
Serving a life sentence for the murder and dismemberment of Jun Lin, the 42-year-old won’t be eligible for parole until 2039 — and even then, a release is far from guaranteed.