Luka Rocco Magnotta was born Eric Clinton Kirk Newman on July 24, 1982, in Scarborough, Ontario. He was the first of three children born to Anna Yourkin and Donald Newman. According to Luka, his mother was very focused on cleanliness and often locked her children out of the house. He claimed that she once put their pet rabbits outside in the cold, causing them to freeze to death. His father was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1994. After this, he divorced Anna, and Luka moved in with his grandmother, Phyllis.

Luka attended I. E. Weldon Secondary School in Lindsay. In his later years, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which led him to receive a disability allowance. To support himself, he began working as a prostitute. In 2003, Luka started appearing in gay pornographic videos and also worked as a stripper. He gained some attention in 2005 when he appeared as a pin-up model in Toronto's fab magazine, using the name Jimmy.

In 2006, Luka legally changed his name from Eric Clinton Kirk Newman to Luka Rocco Magnotta. In March 2007, he declared bankruptcy with debts totaling $17,000, but this bankruptcy was discharged fully by December of that year.

His attempts to seek fame included competing in a reality show called COVERguy in 2007, which did not lead to success. Luka underwent several cosmetic surgeries and auditioned for another show called Plastic Makes Perfect in February 2008. Over the years, he created many false online profiles, claiming to be a successful model and porn star, but reports showed that he had not achieved significant success in those areas.

In May 2012, Luka Rocco Magnotta murdered Jun Lin, a Chinese university student, in Montreal, Canada. Jun Lin was last seen on May 24 when he entered Magnotta's apartment. He was soon reported missing when he failed to show up for work. After several days, police discovered a horrifying scene.

On May 25, a video titled "1 Lunatic, 1 Ice Pick" was uploaded online, showing a bound man, later identified as Lin, being attacked and dismembered. The video was shared widely, leading to police investigation and identification of the victim. The day after the murder, Magnotta fled Canada and began a journey that led him to Europe.

Magnotta sent several packages containing body parts to political offices and schools. A package that arrived at the Conservative Party of Canada contained a left foot, prompting immediate investigation. Another package addressed to the Liberal Party with a left hand was intercepted by Canada Post. While searching for Lin, police found a decomposing torso in a suitcase behind an apartment building in Montreal.

On May 30, it was confirmed that the body parts belonged to Jun Lin. Police traced surveillance footage that showed Magnotta removing garbage bags from his apartment. An arrest warrant for him was quickly issued. By June 4, Magnotta was apprehended in Berlin, Germany, while reading news reports about himself at an Internet café.

After his return to Canada, he faced multiple charges including first-degree murder. His trial included expert testimony regarding his mental health. In December 2014, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Magnotta's case received international attention due to the nature of the crime and the disturbing video he had posted.