PETER KÜRTEN - The Vampire of Düsseldorf | LET ME TELL Episode 2

Peter Kürten (born 26 May 1883 in Cologne, died 2 July 1931 there) was a German serial killer, known as the Vampire of Düsseldorf. Perpetrator of nine murders. He was the third of thirteen children; his family lived in poverty due to an alcoholic father. The children often witnessed sexual relations between their parents, and there were also incestuous relationships between father and daughters and between siblings. Kürten claimed that he was taught to kill by a neighbour - a hycel. He showed him how to abuse and kill dogs. At the time, he was fascinated by killing. Shortly afterwards, Kürten probably committed his first murder, pushing two of his peers off a raft on the Rhine. He was never charged with this crime. When Kürten was 13, his family moved to Düsseldorf. There he ran away from home and lived off robberies. At the age of 15, he was arrested for robbery and soon received the first of the 17 sentences that would make up the 27 years of his life. By 1904, Kürten spent more time in prison than out. On 25 May 1913, he broke into an inn in the owners’ absence and murdered their 13-year-old daughter. Kürten strangled her and, to make sure she was dead, slit her throat with a penknife. Shortly after this crime he was caught stealing and spent the next eight years in prison. Returning to Düsseldorf in 1921, Kürten began an honest life. He married and found work in a local factory. In 1929, however, his murderous tendencies returned. By July 1929, Kürten had committed two murders and three robberies, the victims of which miraculously survived. In August 1929, the bodies of two girls (aged 5 and 14) were found, both brutally strangled. By November the number of Peter’s victims had risen to 4 murdered women. There were also 5 assaults; one of the victims gave a description of the perpetrator. In May 1930, Kürten confessed to his wife that he was the wanted murderer and instructed her to tell the police. Kürten was arrested on 24 May 1930. All the surviving victims of the attack identified him as the perpetrator. Kürten’s trial began on 13 April 1931 and lasted 10 days. Peter Kürten was sentenced to nine death sentences for the nine murders proven against him. The sentence of decapitation was carried out on 2 July 1931 at 6am. #truecrime #podcast #murdermystery #story #storytime #storytelling #crime #truestory #biography