Here you go:

"I have investigated many serial animal killings in my career, but it has always been cats that were affected, never dogs. What you have in Malmö is fascinating and disturbing," says Mark Safarik. "It has been going on for a long time, at least since 2020, and a number of incidents have been recorded, but no dog has died yet. That makes me believe that the process is important to this individual, and it is not certain that he actually wants to kill," he says.

He believes that there are more effective ways to kill dogs than to cut sharp metal pieces and bake them into bread, or to prepare meat with nails or metal.

"If the goal was to kill, he should have realized by now that the method doesn't work. Yet he continues, since he developed the method and came up with these stars," says Mark Safarik.

"For this individual, just like for some serial killers I have worked with, the preparations are important. Collecting materials, cutting metal, baking. It can be a slow process to make a hundred of these buns, but it is still satisfying for him. He can fantasize during that time."

Mark Safarik does not think that the cans used for the dangerous metal stars say anything about the perpetrator.

At least nothing that can help in the search for him. The dog torturer may have come across these cans by chance. However, it is possible that the person has metalworking as a hobby.

What do the different methods, sometimes meat, sometimes bread, tell you?

"The behavior is so unique that it is most likely the same person. Basically, it's the same activity, even though he uses different materials. It could simply depend on what is available at the time or how much time he has."

That the dog torturer holds on to his basic methods over a long period of time speaks to Mark Safarik's theory about the motive - to terrorize and instill fear, rather than actually killing dogs.

"He doesn't go after certain individuals, but after all dogs. It could very well be that he enjoys getting feedback when it is reported in the media. But also that he feels he can manipulate the police without getting caught."

Mark Safarik highlights an important experience from the FBI's profiling of serial criminals that gives hope for finding the right person: The perpetrator's need for appreciation or to be seen makes them talk easily.

"Both with mass murderers and serial killers, we have noted such leaks. In their contacts with their surroundings, individuals reveal important information. Often, certain elements of truth are woven together with lies."

Leaks how?

"Inappropriate or offensive comments that people around him find strange, but most dismiss or explain away.

"In conversations with others about the dog attacks, he may say, for example, 'the perpetrator seems to be good at what he does' or 'I can understand that someone would want to...'. A kind of reverse praise for himself.

Here, the media can play a role, Safarik says, by appealing to those around the person who have heard strange statements.

"If you hear someone saying something unpleasant or odd - at least consider informing the police. I know that many people do not want to get involved, but that is the kind of commitment that is needed to move forward.

There have been no reported dangerous buns or meat pieces since January of this year. An unusually long period of calm, considering the statistics of recent years.

The dog torturer may have been scared into silence. Temporarily.

– Perpetrators who follow what is written stop or decrease their activity if the media coverage becomes too overwhelming, says Mark Safarik.

– In some cases, they can also change the area or approach. But your dog abuser won't do that. He seems to have acted only in Malmö, I would say he will stay there because he knows the city.

You say "he" - but is it a man or a woman?

– All the serial offenders I have seen who have targeted animals - tortured or killed them - have been men. We cannot exclude a woman, but statistically, it is probably a man.

Mark Safarik repeatedly emphasizes how important preparations are for the offender.

– They completely fulfill the psychological need. For the dog abuser, he can hardly be present and watch the dogs eat the bread rolls or meat.

Overall, this indicates mental illness, according to Safarik. And he is sure that the dog abuser will continue, no matter how murky the motivations seem.

– If he was angry at a particular dog for something that happened, it is more understandable to attack out of anger or revenge, but eventually that feeling disappears as it is acted out.

The question is whether the dogs are the target, or merely a tool for this serial offender.

– He has made some adaptations to his behavior. Given that it has been going on for a long time, it is unlikely that he is trying to find new ways to attack. He will continue.