A 20-year-old forensics student from Redditch has pleaded guilty to the murder of a 24-year-old sex worker at an Airbnb in Tividale, West Midlands. Benjamin Day, an undergraduate at the University of Worcester, was charged with fatally stabbing Maria Saceanu on December 21 of last year. During the attack, Day inflicted 78 knife wounds and began dismembering her body before being apprehended.

The case was heard at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where it emerged that Day had prepared a plastic-lined room at the Airbnb, described as a “kill room,” reportedly modeled after the television series Dexter. Prosecutors said Day was wearing a khaki top similar to that of the show’s central character when the attack occurred. Authorities were alerted after another guest noticed blood running out of the room.

Initially expected to argue self-defense and claim that he had set up the room to film a tribute video inspired by the Dexter character for social media, Day changed his plea to guilty on the second day of the trial. Observers noted that he appeared to acknowledge the seriousness of his plea during court proceedings.

Following his guilty plea, Day was remanded in custody for further psychiatric evaluation. His sentencing is scheduled for December 4. His defense counsel confirmed that Day understands the gravity of the conviction and the likely sentence he faces.