Dr. Hannibal Lecter is not real, but his character was inspired by a real person. In the 1960s, writer Thomas Harris visited the Topo Chico prison in Mexico to research an article for Argosy magazine. It was there that he met Alfredo Balli Trevinoa doctor who served time for the brutal murder of his partner, Jesus Castillo Rangel.
Prison meeting
Thomas Harris, then a 23-year-old reporter, with inmate Dykes Askew Simmons, convicted of triple murder. Simmons tried to escape from prison, but was betrayed by a bribed guard who shot him instead of helping him escape. While Simmons lay wounded, Trevino, also a prisoner, gave him first aid and saved his life.
Harris, fascinated by Trevino, obtained permission to interview him. he found out that Trevino had stayed convicted of the murder of his partner, which was described as a “crime of passion”. After an argument in which Rangel attacked Trevino with a screwdriver, the doctor administered an anesthetic and then moved him to a bathtub where he cut his throat and drained the blood from his body. He didn’t stop there. Trevino dismembered Rangel’s body and packed it in boxes, which he intended to bury on his relative’s farm as medical waste. The plan was foiled when another farm worker noticed the suspicious mound and called the police.
The elegance of a murderer
Thomas Harris described Trevino as having a “certain particular” elegance, even as he talked about dismembering his partner. Their meeting was a bit reminiscent of a memorable scene from “The Silence of the Lambs”., when Jodie Foster’s character visited Hannibal in prison. Trevino asked not only about the prisoner he had saved, but also… asked Harris personal questions related to his childhood trauma. Just like in the movie – he wanted to fully discover the then reporter. The prison guard, after their meeting, said that Trevino would never leave prison because he was crazy. But the guard was wrong. Jesus’ murderer was released after 20 years in prison returned to medical practice. Until his death in 2009, he offered health care to poor families.
Redemption of sins
After leaving prison, Trevino devoted himself to helping others, which can be considered an attempt to make amends for his previous actions. His life and crime became an inspiration for Thomas Harris, who created one of the most terrifying characters in literature and film.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
