The Murder of John Price

Historically, women are at greater risk of becoming the victim of a crime than being the perpetrator in one, especially violent crimes like murder. The ACLU reported that of the more than 230,000 women currently incarcerated in U.S. prisons, only 18% are serving time for violent crimes.

Women commit under 15% of murders worldwide, with unique motivations behind the crime when compared to men who murder or commit other violent acts. Women murder their children and/or spouses most commonly in an act of jealous rage or to receive money/life insurance payouts.

Exceptions to the rules exist. For example, female serial killers are not unheard of, though rare. Serial killer Aileen Wuornos shot seven men in the back of the head before robbing them of money and valuables.

Katherine Knight

And then women like Australian Katherine Knight exist who battle severe mental illness their entire lives, never getting any help, until finally, they reach the point of no return.

Katherine had a long history of violent acts toward family members, friends, and pets as an adolescent. She sliced a puppy’s throat once and cut a police officer with a knife.

She later married and had kids but never grew out of her violent psychopathic tendencies. This caused the demise of her marriage but she went on to find a career at a local slaughterhouse, something quite fulfilling to the woman. She even kept a set of butcher tools on the wall inside her home.

Murder of John Price

Katherine had dated a man named John Thomas Price long enough their relationship fell under common law marriage rules. The relationship took its toll on Price as Katherine was never happy and exhibited violence toward him. Price subsequently took out a restraining order on Katherine the day of his murder.

He told his employer to call the police if he did not show up for work the next day, elaborating enough to say “Katherine had killed him.”

He did not show up for work that day, prompting a call to police who discovered a horrific sight upon entering the home the couple shared.

On Feb. 29, 2000, 45-year-old Katherine murdered, skinned, and decapitated John -then nearly served his remains to her children for dinner.

Police knocked down the door when no one answered, finding Katherine unconscious. More shocking, police discovered cut-up body parts lying in different areas of the home.

Remains Served for Dinner

Katherine had stabbed John 37 times before skinning and hanging his hide, all in one piece, from a meat hook in the living room. She then decapitated John and then boiled his head in a pot of water with carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, cabbage, and potatoes. She removed flesh from his buttocks, baked it in the oven, and served it with a baked potato on the pre-set on the dinner table.

The meal was intended for her adult children, Beck and Jonathan, as the nameplates told.

A photograph of Price accompanied by a handwritten note served as a centerpiece. The note (with its misspellings intact) read:

“Time got you back Johathon for rapping [raping] my douter [daughter]. You to Beck [Price's daughter] for Ross — for Little John [his son]. Now play with little Johns Dick John Price.”

Arrested

Paramedics transported Katherine to a hospital where she was treated and arrested. Upon investigation, police learned the allegations left in her note were entirely fabricated.

The motive behind the act of cannibalism is still unclear, although she eventually confessed to the gruesome murder. She told police that she did not remember any of the details of the event. Psychiatrists agreed that Katherine was sane at the time she committed the act but stated that she suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder.

Katherine Knight Sentenced

Judge Barry O’Keefe sentenced Katherine Knight to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Nov. 8, 2000. She is currently incarcerated at the Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre where inmates reportedly call her “The Nanna.” Correctional Officers have said they keep a close eye on the woman, do not give her a cellmate, and never allow her around knives.