'Mad Scientist' killer on the loose

A paranoid schizophrenic who hacked his mother and father to death has gone missing from a psychiatric hospital in the UK.

The public has been warned not to approach convicted murderer Daniel Rosenthal, 58, who disappeared during an unsupervised walk in the grounds of Tatchbury Mount Hospital, Southampton.

Rosenthal, who wears glasses and has a hunched gait, was nicknamed the "Mad Scientist" when he was jailed for life in 1981.

He had hacked his father, Milton, to death in Paris and hidden the body in a British bin-bag in a forest. He returned to England and killed his mother, Leah, cutting up her body at their home.

Police believe her remains were unwittingly carted off by dustmen.

Rosenthal was dubbed the Mad Scientist because of his experiments on chicken eggs and embryos in a "lab" he built in the living room of the house he shared with his parents. He claimed to be a genius.

The home was sold for £50 000 in 1994 and Rosenthal collected £16 000.

At the time a spokesman for the solicitors' firm dealing with his mother's will said they hoped he would never be able to spend the money.

"Our worst nightmare is Daniel Rosenthal on the streets again," she said.

Police are carrying out an "extensive" search for the missing psychopath.