Karl Denke

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Karl Denke

Only known photograph of Karl Denke, after his suicide
Born (1870-08-12)August 12, 1870
Oberkunzendorf, Münsterberg, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia (now Ziębice, Poland)
Died December 22, 1924(1924-12-22) (aged 54)
Cause of death
 Suicide
Motive cannibalism
Killings
Victims At least 42
Span of killings
 21 February 1903–20 April 1924
Country Germany (area now part of Poland)
Date apprehended
 22 December 1924

Karl Denke (August 12, 1870 – December 22, 1924) was a serial killer from Germany.

Denke was born in Münsterberg, Silesia in the Kingdom of Prussia (now Ziębice in Poland).[1] At the age of 12 he ran away from home; little else is known about his early life. However, in adulthood he worked as an organ player at the local church and was well-liked in his community.

On December 20, 1924, Denke was arrested after attacking a man at his house with an axe. Police searched Denke's home and found human flesh in huge jars of curing salts. A ledger contained the details of at least 42 people whom Denke had murdered and cannibalized between 1914 and 1918.[2][3] It is thought he even sold the flesh of his victims at the Breslau (today's Wrocław) market as pork.[4]

The days after his arrest, Denke hung himself in his cell.

References

  1. ↑ "Centipede: Nice enough to eat; Cannibals of the 20th century". The Guardian (in English). May 20, 1993. p. 12. 
  2. ↑ Corke, Jonathan (December 7, 2003). "Cannibal's victim in cold packs; Exclusive pleased to meat you". Daily Star (in English). p. 21. 
  3. ↑ "Cannibalism: Hard act to swallow; What drives some people to eat others? We examine the body of evidence". The Straits Times (in English) (Singapore). December 14, 2003. 
  4. ↑ Robbins, Martin (September 8, 2010). "What does human meat taste like?". Guardian Unlimited (in English). 

Bibliography

  • Matthias Blazek: Karl Denke, in: Carl Großmann und Friedrich Schumann – Zwei Serienmörder in den zwanziger Jahren, ibidem: Stuttgart 2009, p. 133 f. ISBN 978-3-8382-0027-9

External links

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