Karl Denke

Karl Denke
Cause of death	Suicide
Motive	cannibalism
Details
Victims	30
Span of crimes	1903–1924
Country	Germany
Date apprehended	20 December 1924

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

Denke was born in Münsterberg/Silesia in Germany, today's Ziębice in Poland. There is not a great deal of information about his early life, but in adulthood he was well liked in his community, and worked as an organ player at the local church.

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 30 people Denke had murdered and cannibalized over the years. It is thought he even sold the flesh of his victims at the Breslau (today's Wrocław) market.

The day after his arrest, Denke hanged himself in his cell, meaning his exact motives can only be guessed at.

External links

• Short biography, other short articles: [1] and [2]
• biography in polish