Peter Stumpp
Peter Stumpp was a serial murderer who lived near the town of Bedburg in western Germany. He was convicted of murder and practicing black magic and tortured to death in 1589.
Biography
From his youth, he was inclined to evil, having started practicing black magic at the age of twelve. He completely rejected Christianity and embraced necromancy and sorcery, entering an incestuous relationship with his sister, which lasted well into adulthood. Through his magic workings, he conjured the Devil, who gave him a girdle that transformed him into a large, hulking wolf with large eyes, sharp teeth, and mighty paws. When he wished to turn back into a normal person, he simply needed to remove the girdle and he would become human again, as though he had never been in the shape of a wolf.
Peter's bloodlust grew, and he began stalking and murdering any man, woman, or child who caught his eye. In an attempt to control his rage, he took to killing lambs and goats, murdering them with his bear hands and tearing their raw flesh with his teeth.
His daughter, Belle Stumpp, who was likely born out of his incestuous relationship with Peter's sister, was also made to submit to his unrestrained lust. It was rumored most of his children were gotten though his sister or his daughter.
Capture and trial
Peter was imprisoned and questioned by the magistrates. During his interrogation, he implicated his daughter and mistress in the attacks, so they were arrested and imprisoned with him. The trial successfully convicted Peter of only 16 murders, although they suspected there were many more. He admitted to murdering 13 children, two men, and one woman.
On 28 October 1589, Peter, Belle, and his mistress Katherine were pronounced guilty of murder and incest and condemned to death. Peter was sentenced to death by breaking on the wheel, with hot pincers slowly pulling off his flesh, before he was chopped to pieces with an axe. After his death, his head was removed and his body burned on 31 October.