Peter Kurten (The Dusseldorf Vampire)

Modus Operandi / Motive

Name Peter Kurten
Aliases "The Dusseldorf Vampire"
Location Dusseldorf - GERMANY
Born 26th May, 1883 : Cologne-Mulheim
Died 2nd July, 1931 (Death sentence carried out by guillotine)
Status Deceased

No Vicitims: 15

MO>

In can't be said that there was any efficient, systematic approach Peter Kurten used when targeting his victims. From various accounts of his life, it is suggested that the attacks came about due to an insatiable sexual-appetite which Kurten had, with them being the driving force behind his murders.

In terms of method of attack, he would use a variety of methods to kill his victims, which included strangulation on physically inferior targets (such as the numerous children he killed), and strangulation & bludgeoning when waiting in ambush for an opportunity to present itself.

Unusually, his victims were not all women since his motivation was not always for self-sexual gratification.

Peter Kurten's name entered the annals of criminology through the fact that, after his conviction, he became the first serial killer ever interviewed in-depth by a psychiatrist.

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MOTIVE>

To be absolutely brutal in the classification of his motive, it would be listed under those normally associated with a "Sex-Maniac". However, his reasons for killing indiscriminately, and not exclusively to one gender, was because the activity created sexual pleasure for Kurten, rather than the victim themselves. Although molestation occurred in some of his victims, it was only so that he may elevate the experience to an even more euphoric state for himself.

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