Karl Denke

The Cannibal of Ziębice, Vatter Denke

  Active for 16 years
(1909-1924) in Germany

42

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

42

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. 8 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 12 Books About Karl Denke
  14. 5 External References
  15. Internal References

Karl Denke a Prussian serial killer and cannibal who killed and cannibalized dozens of homeless vagrants and travelers from 1903-1924. Denke a 19th Century axe murdering cannibal The cannibal of Ziębice also known as Karl Denke mainly targeted travelers, he would skin and cure his victims to make leather products to sell off at the local market as well as door to door. An escaped victim, reporting that Denke had tried to murder him with an axe, lead authorities to Denke's house. Evidence of multiple acts of murder and cannibalism was reportedly found. One piece of evidence mentioned was a ledger of victims that held 42+ details about unique previous victims. Karl Denke was born on August 12, 1870 (See External Reference #4), as the second son of a relatively likely farmer in the village of Lower Silesia (the name could not be determined).

Karl Denke Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Karl Denke (aka) The Cannibal of Ziębice, Vatter Denke, was active for 16 years between 1909-1924, known to have ( 42 confirmed / 42 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: Germany

Karl Denke was born on August 12th 1870 in Oberkunzendorf, Münsterberg, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia. Denke had multiple brothers. His father, a farmer, deceased, Karl (Age 25).

Denke a male citizen of Germany.

In 1909 (Age 38/39) Karl Denke started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to commit acts of cannibalism, mutilate, and murder his victims. At the time of his crimes he was living with himself, a house at Teichstrasse No. 10 (now Stawowa). It was a gray, one-story building. Denke occupied the flat on the ground floor on the right, he rented the rest of the rooms., where Denke was known to work as a criminal, murderer, serial killer.

He was arrested on December 20th 1924 (Age 54), sentenced to never tried committed suicide in cell (hanging) at Münsterberg, Poland (Breslau, Germany at the time).

Karl Denke died on December 20th 1924 (Age 54), cause of death: suicide, suicide in jail cell (hanging) at Münsterberg, Poland (Breslau, Germany at the time). Karl Denke committed suicide on December 20th 1924 (Age 54).

Profile Completeness: 56%
serial killers by profile completeness

Karl Denke has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 4 years ago.

Karl Denke a known:

Karl Denke
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-06-27 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: Karl Denke
Nickname: The Cannibal of Ziębice, Vatter Denke
Victims: 42 - 42
Years Active: 1909 - 1924
Ages Active: 38/39 - 53/54
Active Countries: Germany
Life Span: 1870 - 1924
Characteristics
Gender: Male
Citizenship: Germany
Sexual Preference: N/A
Astrological Sign: Leo
Jul 23 - Aug 23
Birth Month: August
Marital Status: N/A
Children: N/A
Living With: himself, a house at Teichstrasse No. 10 (now Stawowa). It was a gray, one-story building. Denke occupied the flat on the ground floor on the right, he rented the rest of the rooms.
Occupation: criminal, murderer, serial killer
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: Aug 12, 1870
Family Name: Denke
Given Name: Karl
Birth Location: Oberkunzendorf, Münsterberg, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia
Birth Order: N/A
Siblings: multiple brothers
Raised By: N/A
Birth Category: N/A
Mother: N/A
Father: a farmer, deceased, Karl (Age 25)

Cognitive Ability
IQ: N/A
Highest School: N/A
Highest Degree:

Incarceration
Arrested: Dec 20, 1924 (Age 54)
Convicted: N/A
Sentence: never tried committed suicide in cell (hanging)
Prison Location: Münsterberg, Poland (Breslau, Germany at the time)
Executed: N/A
Previous Crimes: N/A
Previous Jail: N/A
Previous Prison: N/A

Death Information
Death Date: Dec 20, 1924 (Age 54)
Manner of Death: suicide
Cause of Death: suicide in jail cell (hanging)
Death Location: Münsterberg, Poland (Breslau, Germany at the time)
Killed In Prison: FALSE
Suicide: TRUE
8 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Karl Denke

The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Karl Denke. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
Aug 12 1870Karl Denke was born in Oberkunzendorf, Münsterberg, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia.  #18700812
Aug 12 1890
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
Aug 12 1900
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
1909
(Age 38/39)
Karl Denke started his serial killing spree. #1909
Aug 12 1910
(Age 40)
40th Birthday
Aug 12 1920
(Age 50)
50th Birthday
1924
(Age 53/54)
Karl Denke ended his serial killing spree. #1924
Dec 20 1924
(Age 54)
Karl Denke arrested. #19241220
Dec 20 1924
(Age 54)
Karl Denkedied.cause of death:suicide,suicide in jail cell (hanging)at Münsterberg, Poland (Breslau, Germany at the time). #19241220

8 / 40
ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
suicide TRUE 225
used weapon TRUE 453
mutilated TRUE 447
ate part of body TRUE 451
killed in prison FALSE 218
used gun FALSE 451
rape FALSE 453
sex with body FALSE 430


Books that Mention Karl Denke

Book: Serial Killers (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Peter Vronsky
Serial Killers
Book: Killer Book of Serial Killers (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Tom Philbin
Killer Book of Serial Killers
Book: The Big Book of Serial Killers (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Jack Rosewood
The Big Book of Serial Killers
Book: Cannibal Killers (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Moira Martingale
Cannibal Killers
Book: Eat Thy Neighbour (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Daniel Diehl
Eat Thy Neighbour
Book: Lustmord (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Maria Tatar
Lustmord
Book: The Corpse (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Christine Quigley
The Corpse
Book: Using Murder (mentions serial killer Karl Denke)
Philip Jenkins
Using Murder

12 Books that mention Serial Killer
Karl Denke

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1101204621 Serial Killers 19
1402226470 Killer Book of Serial Kil... 17
1548119644 The Big Book of Serial Ki... 60
0312956045 Cannibal Killers 4
0752486772 Eat Thy Neighbour 3
0691015902 Lustmord 2
0786424494 The Corpse 2
0202305252 Using Murder 2
190779591x Extreme Evil 6
1547094761 Cannibal 1
0766072835 Cannibal Serial Killers 5
147661377x The Corpse 2

Karl Denke (February 12, 1860-February 22, 1924) was a Prussian serial killer and cannibal who killed and cannibalized dozens of homeless vagrants and travelers from 1903-1924. He is often regarded as "The Forgotten Cannibal", or "The Cannibal of Ziebice".

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Karl Denke on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Oct 2, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Karl DENKE on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Oct 2, 2018.
  3. Karl Denke on de.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Oct 2, 2018.
  4. Dr. Lucyna Biały, Mass Murderer and Cannibal Karl Denke on www.bibliotekacyfrowa.pl, Retrieved on Oct 2, 2018.
  5. Q62801 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 17, 2018.
Internal References

Karl Denke is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #2 of 20[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in Germany
  2. #2 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in August
  3. #4 of 43[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Cannibals sorted by Confirmed Victims
  4. #4 of 46[ Page 1 ] of Leo Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  5. #18 of 651[ Page 2 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  6. #95 of 651[ Page 7 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  7. #126 of 651[ Page 9 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
  8. #424 of 651[ Page 29 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts Karl Denke 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, Mannor of Death, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: