Hosted by Marcel Theroux, The Eunuch Maker explores the story of Marius Gustavson, reported to be running a financial business from his home in Finsbury Park by operating and live streaming sexual organ removal surgeries online in front of audiences in their thousands. The show starts Monday, 13th January at 9pm on Crime+Investigation.
Behind a façade of anonymity on the internet's dark corners, Marius Gustavson ran an operation that was as bizarre as it was horrifying. Known to some as 'The Eunuch Maker', Gustavson built a thriving underground business performing illegal castrations and live-streaming the procedures to paying audiences.
It wasn’t until 2023 that authorities uncovered the full scope of his crimes, shining a light on a hidden world few could have imagined.
How did a British man manage to turn extreme bodily modifications into a profitable enterprise? Who were the victims who took part in his operation, and how did he evade capture for so long?
A thriving underground business
For years, Marius Gustavson’s 'business' operated largely in the shadows. Advertising his services on obscure forums and private groups, he appealed to a niche audience seeking extreme body modifications. The procedures Gustavson offered weren’t just unconventional — they were illegal.
He performed castrations, penectomies and other genital surgeries in makeshift operating rooms, often in non-sterile conditions that put his 'clients' at severe risk.
What made his operation even more shocking was the fact that many of the procedures were live-streamed. Paying viewers from around the globe watched in real-time as Gustavson performed surgeries on willing participants. For some, it was a macabre curiosity; for others, it was part of a fetish subculture where such acts were fetishised as acts of transformation or submission.
Gustavson turned this voyeuristic demand into a lucrative source of income, earning almost £300,000 from his website.
The victims
One of the most unsettling aspects of this case is that unlike victims of serial killers like Jack the Ripper, many of Gustavson’s victims voluntarily submitted to the procedures. These individuals, often driven by deeply personal or psychological reasons, sought out Gustavson as an alternative to legal and regulated medical options that were either inaccessible or unwilling to accommodate their desires.
The lack of medical oversight, hygiene, and proper surgical training turned every procedure into a potential death sentence. In several cases, participants suffered severe complications, infections and life-altering damage that could never be undone.
A network of secrecy
How was Gustavson able to operate for so long without detection? The answer lies in the insular nature of his network. The forums and chat groups where he advertised his services were cloaked in anonymity, protected by encrypted platforms and hidden within the vast expanse of the dark web, a place where the drug trade is also rampant. His clients, driven by their own desire for privacy, rarely reported complications or spoke out publicly.
Additionally, Gustavson maintained a veneer of legitimacy by presenting himself as an experienced practitioner within the body modification community. In this world, where extreme piercings and implants are sometimes seen as expressions of personal freedom, Gustavson positioned himself as a specialist in the most extreme forms of modification.
This network of secrecy, coupled with the shame and stigma often attached to the procedures, made it difficult for authorities to detect the operation, even as it grew more brazen.
The downfall
In 2023, Gustavson’s operation finally came crashing down. Authorities in the UK, working alongside international partners, arrested him and several associates after an investigation uncovered the scope of his activities. His makeshift clinic was raided, revealing unsanitary surgical tools, records of past clients and evidence of the live-streaming operation.
Prosecutors described his actions as 'sadistic', highlighting the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for financial gain. The charges against Gustavson included performing illegal surgeries, causing grievous bodily harm and broadcasting the procedures online for profit.
The case drew widespread media attention, not just because of its grotesque nature but because it exposed the often-hidden world of extreme body modification subcultures. It raised uncomfortable questions about consent, ethics and the legal system’s role in regulating such practices.
Impact and aftermath
For the victims, the consequences of Gustavson’s actions were devastating. Many were left with permanent physical damage and psychological scars.
The case also sent ripples through the broader body modification community, with many people condemning Gustavson’s actions as a betrayal of their ethos. Body modification has always pushed boundaries, but practitioners and advocates argue that it must be done ethically, safely and with proper medical oversight.
Why did it take so long to catch him?
The case of Marius Gustavson highlights the challenges of policing crimes that exist in the shadows of the internet. His use of encrypted platforms and private networks allowed him to evade detection for years, while the stigma surrounding his services made it less likely for victims to report their experiences.
There’s also the uncomfortable reality that society often turns a blind eye to those on the fringes. The individuals who sought out Gustavson were often isolated, misunderstood or rejected by mainstream systems of care. This marginalisation allowed someone like Gustavson to exploit their vulnerability.
