Since the case went public, new details have emerged daily, new chapters in a grisly saga with an alleged culprit that police say is infatuated with self-promotion.

According to Canadian media reports, Magnotta promoted himself as a gay porn actor through a graphic website that showcases a chameleon-like quality: the ability to change his appearance. In one picture, with dark hair, he resembles a teenager. In another, with blond hair, he looks rough.

Authorities allege he even changes his names, using the aliases Eric Newman or Vladimir Romanov.

"There are a lot of pictures of him out there, and it will help lead him to us," LaFreniere told reporters over the weekend.

His name may not have been known before last week, but Magnotta's digital footprints were large.

He was notorious among online animal rights activists, who pegged him as a serial kitten killer who used cat carcasses in sexual acts.

A Facebook group started in December 2010 dubbed him the "Vacuum Kitten Killer," after a video was posted on YouTube showing kittens being killed by suffocation and drowning.

Several Canadian newspapers also reported that Magnotta had dated notorious Canadian killer Karla Homolka, who years before was arrested for the rapes and murders of three Ontario girls, including her own sister. As part of a plea bargain, Homolka served 12 years in prison. LaFreniere said he could not confirm any links and Homolka is not part of the investigation.

Now, there are reports that Magnotta threatened to kill as early as six months ago during an encounter with a reporter at the Sun.

The British newspaper implicated Magnotta as a suspect in the videotaped killing of a kitten, which it reports he initially denied.

Then, according to the newspaper, it received an e-mail describing how the writer planned to move on from killing animals to people. The writer, the newspaper reported over the weekend, was Magnotta.

"We're talking about a very strange, unhinged individual," said the Sun's Neil Millard.

"Obviously, we did give those details to the police in this country."

But there was little British authorities could do, with Magnotta back in Canada.

LaFreniere has said police are aware of the animal abuse allegations.

On what appears to be his website, Magnotta defended himself as a victim of cyberstalking.

"Once and for all, I will set the record straight," he wrote. "Many hoax websites are created using my image and name, posing as me to seem more believable in respect to the type of audience these website (sic) have, I feel I don't need to list them specifically but people need not be told, not to believe what they read and to take it as fact."

The website has writing in Arabic and Russian, and shows images of Magnotta half-naked and with his lips in a distinct runway pout.

LaFreniere from the Montreal police had expressed confidence that Magnotta would be caught sooner or later -- predicting his desire for attention could be his downfall.

"This man uses the Web to glorify himself, and (authorities) hope this habit will lead to his capture," the police commander said Saturday.