Idaho man cuts off hand, microwaves it

updated 1:30 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2008

HAYDEN, Idaho - A man who believed he bore the "mark of the beast" used a circular saw to cut off one hand, then cooked it in the microwave and called 911, authorities said.

The man, in his mid-20s, was calm when Kootenai County sheriff's deputies arrived Saturday in this northern Idaho town. He was in protective custody in the mental health unit of Kootenai Medical Center.

"It had been somewhat cooked by the time the deputy arrived," sheriff's Capt. Ben Wolfinger said. "He put a tourniquet on his arm before, so he didn't bleed to death. That kind of mental illness is just sad."

It was not immediately clear whether the man has a history of mental illness. Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Johnson would not say whether an attempt was made to reattach the hand, citing patient confidentiality.

The Book of Revelation in the New Testament contains a passage in which an angel is quoted as saying: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink the wine of God's fury."

The book of Matthew also contains the passage: "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for you whole body to do into hell."

Wolfinger said he didn't know which hand was amputated.

More from msnbc.com Brownstein: The risk of Obama rapture New IVF dilemmas make old fears seem quaint Which storm pounded Texas? Take our news quiz T-Mobile sued over 'mandatory' text fees Analysis: No sign yet of a bottom in home prices Showdown over carrying guns in national parks

MORE FROM LIFE

Life Section Front

Congress OKs $48 billion global AIDS bill Report on Utah mine disaster Audit: Katrina consultant cost La. millions Fuel spill bars 59 ships from Mississippi Grizzly bear mauls woman in Alaska Church surrenders ground zero lot Report warns of Southern AIDS ‘crisis’ Crane kills bystander Showdown over packing heat in national parks Climate study: Nevada faces drought Life Section Front   Add Life headlines to your news reader: