The Unsettling Truth: 5 Terrifying Ways Pigs Can And Will Eat People

The question of whether pigs eat people is not a matter of fiction or urban legend; it is a grim, documented reality. As of the current date, December 17, 2025, the scientific and forensic communities confirm that domestic and feral pigs are biologically capable of consuming an entire human body, including the most durable parts. This unsettling capability stems from the pig's powerful omnivorous diet and incredibly efficient digestive system, making them an animal that demands respect and caution, especially on farms and in the wild.

This deep dive explores the biological reasons, the chilling true crime cases, and the forensic science that has proven the pig’s capacity to consume human remains, transforming a morbid curiosity into a serious discussion about animal behavior and body disposal.

The Pig's Biological Blueprint: Why *Sus scrofa* is an Efficient Consumer of Remains

To understand how a pig can consume a human body, one must first look at its biological classification. The domestic pig, *Sus scrofa domesticus*, along with its ancestor, the wild boar (*Sus scrofa*), is a true omnivore. This is the foundational reason for their unsettling dietary flexibility.

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• Omnivorous Diet: Unlike herbivores or strict carnivores, pigs naturally consume a wide variety of food sources, including plants, insects, small animals, and carrion. This evolutionary trait means they are biologically programmed to exploit any available protein and calorie source, including human flesh.
• Powerful Jaws and Teeth: Pigs possess immensely powerful jaw muscles and teeth designed for crushing and grinding tough materials. While they prefer soft tissue, their dentition allows them to break down and ingest smaller bones, cartilage, and connective tissue.
• Efficient Digestive System: The porcine digestive process is highly effective. Forensic studies have shown that pigs can consume and digest not just soft tissue but also bones and, in some cases, even human teeth, which are notoriously durable. The only remains often left behind are small bone fragments or dental prosthetics like dentures.

Scavenging vs. Predation: The Trigger for Consumption

While pigs are capable of eating humans, it is crucial to distinguish between two scenarios: scavenging and active predation. Most documented cases involve scavenging, where a person is already dead or incapacitated.

Scavenging Behavior:

The majority of incidents where pigs consume human remains occur when the victim is already deceased or has suffered a severe incapacitating injury, such as a heart attack or a fall, within the pig enclosure. The animals are drawn to the scent of blood and the availability of a large, high-calorie food source, acting on instinct rather than malice. Once the feeding begins, it is incredibly difficult, and often fatal, to stop them.

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Active Predation:

While less common, active attacks leading to death and consumption have been documented. In a 2018 case, a 75-year-old Ohio woman was mauled to death and partially eaten by two of her neighbor's pigs near her home on Christmas Day. These predatory attacks are often attributed to large, hungry, or poorly socialized hogs, particularly boars, which can weigh hundreds of pounds and exhibit aggressive behavior, especially when food is scarce or they feel threatened.

Case Files: Documented Instances of Pigs Consuming Human Remains

The unsettling reality of pigs eating people has been cemented by several high-profile and gruesome cases, both accidental and criminal. These incidents have moved the topic from folklore into the realm of true crime and forensic investigation.

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1. The Accidental Death of Terry Vance Garner (2012)

Perhaps the most famous case of a pig consuming its owner occurred in Coos County, Oregon, in 2012. Farmer Terry Vance Garner, 69, went out to feed his animals and never returned. His remains were later found in the hog enclosure. Authorities determined that Garner was either mauled to death or suffered a medical emergency, like a heart attack, and was then consumed by his herd of large hogs, some weighing up to 700 pounds. The only identifiable remains found were his dentures and a few bone fragments, illustrating the pigs' remarkable efficiency. The district attorney concluded it was an accidental death, with the pigs acting on instinct.

2. The Murders of Susan Monica (2013)

In a chilling example of deliberate body disposal, Oregon farmer Susan Monica was convicted in 2015 of murdering two men, Stephen Frank and Robert Haney, and feeding their remains to her pigs on her property. Monica confessed to shooting one of the victims in the head before chopping up his body and disposing of it in the pig enclosure. This case highlights the long-standing, morbid knowledge among some in rural communities that pigs can effectively eliminate evidence, leading to the nickname "Piglady" in some media reports.

3. The Robert Pickton Serial Killer Case

Another notorious case often cited is that of Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton, who murdered dozens of women in British Columbia. While Pickton was convicted on six counts of second-degree murder, he allegedly confessed to using his pig farm to dispose of the remains of many of his victims. Although the extent of the pigs' consumption was debated during the investigation, the case brought the concept of using a pig farm for criminal disposal into the global spotlight.

Forensic Science and the Pig as a Human Proxy

The pig’s ability to consume and process human remains is so well-established that the animal is now a crucial tool in forensic science. Pigs are frequently used as human analogues, or substitutes, in decomposition studies at "body farms" and research facilities worldwide.

• Decomposition Studies: Researchers utilize pig carcasses (*Sus scrofa*) to study the stages of human decomposition, the effects of environment on the process, and the activity of insects and scavengers. This research is vital for training forensic anthropologists and improving criminal investigations.
• Understanding Scavenging Patterns: By observing how pigs interact with and consume a carcass, scientists can better understand the patterns of scavenging on human remains found at crime scenes. This helps law enforcement distinguish between wounds inflicted by a human assailant and post-mortem injuries caused by animals.
• The Speed of Consumption: While the exact time depends on the size of the pig, the number of animals, and their hunger level, pigs can consume a significant amount of tissue in a surprisingly short period. Some estimates suggest a group of large, hungry hogs could fully consume an adult human body in a matter of days.

The pig's efficiency as a scavenger is not a myth; it is a biological fact that has been repeatedly proven in both tragic accidents and criminal investigations. The unsettling truth is that these common farm animals, driven by their powerful omnivorous instinct, possess a unique and terrifying capability to erase evidence of a human life.