As one of the most terrifying fictional villains of all time, Hannibal Lecter has terrified fans and book fans for more than 30 years. Even more frightening, however, is that this liver-eating man-eater is based on a real killer, Alfredo, a Mexican doctor who met Thomas Harris in the 1960s and impressed the young writer.
In 1981, Thomas Harris published his second novel, The Red Dragon, introducing Hannibal Lecter to the world. After three novels, five movies and a TV show, many people were impressed by this man-eating killer. However, there is one issue that has plagued fans for a long time. Was the character of Hannibal Lecter inspired by real-life murderers? If so, who? Over the years, there have been a lot of names tossed around, including Jeffrey Damer and Albert Fish.
Sure, there was one man who knew the answer, Thomas Harris, but he never mentioned it, leaving the reader to fight for it.
In 2013, everything changed. When the 25th anniversary edition of the Silent Lambs novel was released, Thomas Harris's message sent chills to Hannibal fans. According to the authors themselves, Lecter is based on a little-known Mexican murderer he calls "Dr." Salazar. The two met in the early 1960s, when Harris was a journalist covering American murderer Dex Aschu Simmons serving a sentence at Monterrey Prison. During a visit to a Mexican prison, Harris learns that Simmons was shot while trying to escape. Simmons, who was seriously injured, was sent to Dr. Salazar, who operated on him. Salazar is a doctor who lives in prison, and at first Harris thought the doctor was living with criminals to save lives. Out of curiosity, Harris wanted to interview the surgeon, and after several twists and turns, the two finally met, and according to Harris, Salazar was "a short, light-skinned man with dark red hair." The two men talked deeper, but soon Harris couldn't control the conversation. Salazar begins to ask Harris about the victims of Simmons' persecution and explain to Harris what pain is... After the interview, Harris asked the warden about Salazar's medical career. The official replied in shock, "Dude! This doctor is a murderer! As a surgeon, he was able to pack his victims in a surprisingly small box. He's crazy. ”
Who is Dr. Salazar? According to The New York Times and Mexican writer Diego Enrique Osano, Salazar's real name is Alfredo Barry Trevino, a surgeon and murderer who was imprisoned in the '60s, where he treated Simmons. But what exactly did this "good doctor" do to get him in jail?
On October 9, 1959, Trevino and his lover, Jesse Castillo Langel, got into a fight. Some people rumored that Langell did not borrow Trevino money. Others say Langle wants to end their relationship. Finally, Trevino knocked Langle unconscious, slashed his throat with a scalpel, cut him into small pieces, and then put the bloody fragments into a box. With the help of an accomplice, Alfredo buried his lover's body, but he was eventually found and sentenced to death. Trevino's sentence was later commuted, and he eventually left prison in 2000. After his freedom, he continued to practice medicine, helping the poor until his death in 2009. Despite the many good things he did, he most likely preferred to exchange stories and share wine with everyone's favorite cannibals.