Florida Man Allegedly Castrates A Man He Met On Dark Web Fetish Site For Eunuchs

A Florida man was arrested after allegedly performing a botched castration on a man he'd met on a dark web fetish website for eunuchs.

Gary Van Ryswyk, 74, was arrested Sunday in Sebring, Florida and charged with practicing medicine without a license resulting in bodily injury. Van Ryswyk had called authorities himself after encountering issues while attempting to remove the man's genitals, according to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. 

In a statement on Facebook, the sheriff's office poked fun at the situation in a statement, saying, "This one is a little … let’s just say sensitive. You could even say it’s kinda nuts." 

Police found the injured man on a bed, holding a towel to his bloody groin, according to WFTS of Tampa Bay, Florida. The victim was flown to a hospital for treatment and is now listed as in stable condition and recovering from his injuries.

Police also discovered a "pink container which held two body parts that had recently been much closer to the victim," according to a statement.

Gary Van Ryswyck was arrested after messing up during a castration he was performing on a man he found through the dark web. Photo: Highlands County Sheriff's Office

Van Ryswyk had set up the room where he attempted to perform the amateur surgery as if it were a legitimate medical center, complete with medical tools and painkillers, authorities say. He had apparently also planned to record the procedure, as a video camera was also found at the scene.

Van Ryswyk told deputies he'd met the victim on a "a website for those that have a fetish for castration," according to an arrest report cited by Buzzfeed News.

Van Ryswyk had attempted to meet up with the victim a week prior but had to delay for unspecified reasons, according to authorities. He allegedly told deputies that he had previously performed castrations on animals and had removed one of his own testicles in 2012. He has also previously performed another similarly botched procedure on a man in a motel room who later went to a hospital for proper treatment, but charges were never filed charges and the situation was not reported, authorities said.

This victim has not been named in reports. According to Buzzfeed, his testicles were transported with him to the hospital, but it's unclear if they have been reattached.

Van Ryswyk's bond was set at $250,000.

Anyone with more information about Van Ryswyk is being urged to contact Det. Roger St. Laurent at 863-402-7250 or email detectives@highlandssheriff.com. Tips can also be left anonymously on the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office app or through Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS or www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.