A soon-to-be father experienced a horrific beheading and subsequent cannibalization by an individual who believed he was defending humanity from extraterrestrial beings. The incident occurred when Tim McLean, a Canadian carnival worker, was en route to Winnipeg to visit his pregnant partner. While peacefully listening to music at the back of a bus, Vincent Weiguang Li entered the bus. Witnesses noted Li’s agitated demeanor as he initially sat quietly at the front of the bus.
As events unfolded, Li eventually moved to the back of the bus where Tim was asleep against the window. On July 30, 2008, Li initiated a violent attack on Tim, resulting in the severing of Tim’s ear, tongue, and nose, which were found in Li’s possession. Despite efforts by a young veteran and the bus driver to intervene, Li continued his assault, causing chaos and horror among passengers. Li’s actions culminated in him displaying Tim’s decapitated head to onlookers and consuming parts of his flesh before authorities arrived.
Li later claimed that he had acted upon hearing a divine directive to protect people from an alien invasion, asserting that he believed himself to be a savior figure. Diagnosed with mental illness, Li was deemed not criminally responsible for the murder and was institutionalized. Despite the tragedy, Tim’s family continues to grapple with the emotional aftermath, emphasizing the enduring impact of the incident. In 2017, Li was released and now resides in a Manitoba community under a different name.
Tim’s legacy lives on through his son, born five months after his tragic demise, whom his mother regards as a blessing and a symbol of hope.