Student guilty of murdering woman lured to Airbnb kill room

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 12:42 · Archive

Benjamin Day, 20, pleaded guilty to murdering Maria Saceanu, 24, whom he lured to an Airbnb he had prepared as a kill room inspired by the TV drama Dexter.

Benjamin Day, 20, a forensic science student, pleaded guilty this week to murdering Maria Saceanu, 24. He had lured her to an Airbnb property in Tividale, West Midlands, on 20 December 2025, where he killed her within a short time of her arrival.

Day had prepared the three-bedroom property as what he called a 'kill room', inspired by the US crime drama Dexter. He meticulously covered the bedroom walls, floor and bed in plastic sheeting, stapled it in place, and gathered knives, duct tape and cleaning supplies. He had found Saceanu's details on Vivastreet, an escort website, contacted her through a burner phone and rented the property for £40.

Saceanu was stabbed 78 times. A Home Office pathologist said she died from wounds to her neck that damaged major blood vessels, including the carotid arteries or jugular veins. Injuries to her hands were consistent with attempts to protect herself. Many wounds were inflicted after her death. Day attempted to dismember her body but stopped after cutting his own hand.

Saceanu's cousin said she was 'one in a million' who dreamed of becoming a mother. The cousin expressed regret at not answering what would be Saceanu's final call at 8pm that evening. Day will be sentenced in December.

How it is being reported

• 'Dexter' killer victim's tragic final hours before murder in Airbnb 'kill room'Benjamin Day, obsessed with Dexter, prepared an Airbnb 'kill room' before luring sex worker Maria Saceanu there, stabbing her 78 times and attempting to dismember herThe Mirror · 12 Oct, 12:24
• 'I want that scumbag to suffer every year of his life': Cousin of woman murdered by Dexter-obsessed student says she was 'one in a million' who dreamed of becoming a mother - and hopes her killer is 'haunted by regret'Maria Saceanu, 24, was lured to a 'kill room' at an Airbnb by forensic sciences student Benjamin Day who stabbed her to death before setting about dismembering her body.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 00:02

In this story: Benjamin Day · Maria Saceanu · Tividale · West Midlands · Vivastreet

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