Peter Kurten

The Vampire of Düsseldorf, the Düsseldorf Monster

  Active for 18 years
(1913-1930) in German Empire, Germany, German republic

9

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

9

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 9 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 7 Books About Peter Kurten
  14. 8 External References
  15. Internal References

Peter Kurten (Peter Kürten) a German serial killer known as The vampire of Düsseldorf and the Düsseldorf Monster. Kurten stated his primary motive was one of sexual pleasure associated with violent acts and that the sight of blood sexual stimulated him. In 1930, Kürten was arrested and confessed to multiple charges including a total of ten murders. He was charged with nine murders and seven attempted murders. Kürten was found guilty and sentenced to death for the nine murders. In 1932, Peter Kurten was executed at the Klingelputz Prison in Cologne, Germany. Kurten's mummified head is currently on display at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Peter Kurten Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Peter Kurten (aka) The Vampire of Düsseldorf, the Düsseldorf Monster, was active for 18 years between 1913-1930, known to have ( 9 confirmed / 9 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: Germany

Peter Kurten was born on May 26th 1883 in Mülheim, city quarter no. 901 of Cologne, Germany, and a subdivision of city district Mülheim. He was born 3rd of 13 children and raised by both parents until (Age 15). Kürten was raised as a middle child and had twelve brothers or sisters. His father, an unnamed man who was an abusive alcoholic. His mother, an unnamed woman who was an alcoholic.

Kürten a male citizen of Germany. Kürten completed 9 years of school, no degree received.

Prior to his spree he had commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison.

In 1913 (Age 29/30) Peter Kurten started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of vampirism, strangle, rape, and murder his victims.

He was arrested on May 24th 1930 (Age 46), convicted on April 22nd 1931 (Age 47), sentenced to death by beheading via guillotine at Klingelputz Prison in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Kürten was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime. Peter Kurten was executed on July 2nd 1931 (Age 48).

Peter Kurten died on July 2nd 1931 (Age 48), cause of death: capital punishment, executed by beheading via guillotine at Klingelputz Prison in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Profile Completeness: 72%
serial killers by profile completeness

Peter Kurten has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Peter Kurten a known:

Peter Kurten
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-05-09 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: Peter Kürten
Nickname: The Vampire of Düsseldorf, the Düsseldorf Monster
Victims: 9 - 9
Years Active: 1913 - 1930
Ages Active: 29/30 - 46/47
Active Countries: Germany
Convicted Of: murder
Life Span: 1883 - 1931
Characteristics
Gender: Male
Citizenship: Germany
Sexual Preference: N/A
Astrological Sign: Gemini
May 21 - Jun 21
Birth Month: May
Marital Status: N/A
Children: N/A
Living With: N/A
Occupation: criminal, serial killer
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: May 26, 1883
Native Name: Peter Kürten
Family Name: Kürten
Given Name: Peter
Birth Location: Mülheim, city quarter no. 901 of Cologne, Germany, and a subdivision of city district Mülheim
Birth Order: 3rd of 13
Siblings: twelve brothers or sisters
Raised By: both parents until (Age 15)
Birth Category: middle child
Mother: an unnamed woman who was an alcoholic
Father: an unnamed man who was an abusive alcoholic

Cognitive Ability
IQ: N/A
Highest School: 9 years of school
Highest Degree: no degree received

Incarceration
Arrested: May 24, 1930 (Age 46)
Convicted: Apr 22, 1931 (Age 47)
Sentence: death by beheading via guillotine
Prison Location: Klingelputz Prison in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Executed: Jul 2, 1931 (Age 48)
Previous Crimes: TRUE
Previous Jail: TRUE
Previous Prison: TRUE

Death Information
Death Date: Jul 2, 1931 (Age 48)
Manner of Death: capital punishment
Cause of Death: executed by beheading via guillotine
Death Location: Klingelputz Prison in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Killed In Prison: FALSE
Suicide: FALSE
9 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Peter Kurten

The 9 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Peter Kurten. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
May 26 1883Peter Kurten was born in Mülheim, city quarter no. 901 of Cologne, Germany, and a subdivision of city district Mülheim.  #18830526
May 26 1903
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
1913
(Age 29/30)
Peter Kurten started his serial killing spree. #1913
May 26 1913
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
May 26 1923
(Age 40)
40th Birthday
1930
(Age 46/47)
Peter Kurten ended his serial killing spree. #1930
May 24 1930
(Age 46)
Peter Kurten arrested. #19300524
Apr 22 1931
(Age 47)
Peter Kurten was convictedand sentenced to death by beheading via guillotine at Klingelputz Prison in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.  #19310422
Jul 02 1931
(Age 48)
Peter Kurtenwas executed.cause of death:capital punishment,executed by beheading via guillotineat Klingelputz Prison in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. #19310702
Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Peter Kurten (1913-1930).

Serial Killers By Active Year


17 / 40
ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
previous crimes TRUE 367
previous jail TRUE 352
previous prision TRUE 336
used weapon TRUE 453
rape TRUE 453
strangle TRUE 443
drank blood TRUE 442
robbed TRUE 418
suicide FALSE 225
killed in prison FALSE 218
used gun FALSE 451
torture FALSE 426
stalk FALSE 418
bound FALSE 406
sex with body FALSE 430
mutilated FALSE 447
ate part of body FALSE 451


Books that Mention Peter Kurten

Book: Serial Killer Rapists (mentions serial killer Peter Kurten)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Book: The Vampire Book (mentions serial killer Peter Kurten)
J Gordon Melton
The Vampire Book
Book: The Mind of a Murderer: Privileged... (mentions serial killer Peter Kurten)
Katherine Ramsland
The Mind of a Murderer: Privileged Access to...
Book: Der Vampir vom Niederrhein - Peter... (mentions serial killer Peter Kurten)
Susann Brennero
Der Vampir vom Niederrhein - Peter Kürten
Book: Deleuzian Events (mentions serial killer Peter Kurten)
Hanjo Berressem
Deleuzian Events
Book: The Killing Of Emma Gross (mentions serial killer Peter Kurten)
Damien Seaman
The Killing Of Emma Gross
Book: God of Comics (mentions serial killer Peter Kurten)
Natsu Onoda Power
God of Comics

7 Books that mention Serial Killer
Peter Kurten

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630619 Serial Killer Rapists 266
1578593506 The Vampire Book 2
0313386730 The Mind of a Murderer: P... 4
3839251303 Der Vampir vom Niederrhei... 1
3643101740 Deleuzian Events 1
1908688157 The Killing Of Emma Gross 1
1604734787 God of Comics 1

Peter Kürten ([ˈpeːtɐ ˈkyːʁtən]; 26 May 1883 – 2 July 1931) was a German serial killer known as both The Vampire of Düsseldorf and the Düsseldorf Monster, who committed a series of murders and sexual assaults between February and November 1929 in the city of Düsseldorf. In the years before these assaults and murders, Kürten had amassed a lengthy criminal record for offenses including arson and attempted murder.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Peter Kürten on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 20, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Peter KÜRTEN on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 20, 2018.
  3. Peter Kürten on de.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 20, 2018.
  4. Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 11 July 1930 (Page A-9) on chroniclingamerica.loc.gov, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
  5. Q60291 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018.
  6. Peter Kurten on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
  7. Düsseldorf Vampire on vampireunderworld.com, Retrieved on Jan 10, 2019.
  8. JUDr. Miloslav Jedlička, Peter Kürten on kriminalistika.eu, Retrieved on Mar 28, 2019.
Internal References

Peter Kurten is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #7 of 20[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in Germany
  2. #11 of 20[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Vampires sorted by Confirmed Victims
  3. #11 of 30[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in May
  4. #13 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Gemini Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  5. #73 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  6. #90 of 250[ Page 6 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  7. #108 of 307[ Page 8 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  8. #209 of 651[ Page 14 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  9. #300 of 651[ Page 20 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  10. #341 of 651[ Page 23 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts Peter Kurten is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Highest Degree Achieved, Birth Category, Mannor of Death, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: