Danish inventor Peter Madsen has confessed to murdering journalist Kim Wall aboard his homemade submarine, ending years of denial in a case that horrified the world and exposed the lethal risks faced by investigative reporters.
At a Glance
- Kim Wall was murdered aboard Peter Madsen’s homemade submarine during an interview in August 2017
- Wall’s dismembered remains were recovered near Copenhagen after Madsen scuttled the vessel
- Madsen was sentenced to life in prison in 2018 and confessed to the murder in a 2020 documentary
- The case revealed disturbing elements of Madsen’s personal life and erratic behavior
- Wall’s death sparked global debate about the safety of journalists and the hidden dangers behind eccentric personas
A Voyage Into Darkness
Kim Wall, a respected 30-year-old Swedish journalist, boarded the UC3 Nautilus for an interview with self-styled Danish inventor Peter Madsen, unaware it would be her final assignment. When she failed to return, authorities initiated a search that culminated in a horrific discovery. Madsen, who had deliberately sunk the vessel, initially claimed he had dropped her off safely. His story quickly unraveled.
Wall’s torso was found on August 21, 2017, followed by other body parts over subsequent weeks. Madsen changed his account multiple times, blaming a hatch accident, then carbon monoxide poisoning. Yet he admitted to dismembering her body, though he denied intent to kill—until 2020.
A Chilling Confession and Conviction
In April 2018, Madsen was convicted of murder, sexual assault, and desecration of a corpse. His appeal was rejected later that year. In phone recordings released through the documentary Secret Recordings with Peter Madsen, he finally confessed: “There is only one who is guilty, and that is me.”
When directly asked whether he killed Kim Wall, Madsen said simply: “Yes.”
Behind the Mask of Eccentric Genius
Though celebrated for his DIY submarine and rocket ventures, Madsen led a disturbing double life. Known to frequent BDSM clubs and juggle extramarital affairs, his court behavior ranged from grandiose to detached. At one point, he likened himself to the Terminator. The trial revealed a man obsessed with control, willing to resort to violence to maintain it.
Madsen’s brief 2020 prison escape using fake weapons further underscored his manipulative, dangerous persona.
A Legacy of Awareness and Accountability
Kim Wall’s murder ignited global conversations about the dangers journalists face, particularly women pursuing stories alone. Her death exposed the thin line between eccentricity and predation and sparked calls for greater safety measures in the field.
As Madsen said in one chilling admission: “Apart from August 10, 2017, I’ve never done anything to anyone.” But that one act of unspeakable violence has left a lasting scar—one that continues to provoke outrage, sorrow, and urgent demands for change in how we protect those who risk everything to tell the truth
