Peter Stumpp (also spelled Stubbe, Stub, Stumpf, or Stübbe) was born around 1530 near the town of Bedburg in what is now modern-day Germany. The exact location and date of his birth remain uncertain. The nickname “Stump” or “Stumpf” may have originated from a physical deformity—his left hand had been severed, leaving only a stump, which some later linked to werewolf myths involving a missing paw.

Stumpp was reportedly a wealthy farmer and a known figure in his Protestant rural community. By the 1580s, he was believed to be a widower and the father of two children—his teenage daughter, Beele (also referred to as Sybil), and a son of unknown age.

Peter Stumpp’s crimes became infamous following one of the most sensational and horrific werewolf trials of the 16th century. In 1589, he was accused of being a werewolf who had made a pact with the Devil. According to trial records, after being tortured on the rack, Stumpp confessed to practicing black magic since age 12. He claimed the Devil had given him a magical belt that allowed him to transform into a ferocious wolf—"with mighty paws, sharp teeth, and glowing eyes.” While the belt was never recovered, the confession marked the beginning of a deeply gruesome tale.

Over the course of 25 years, Stumpp allegedly murdered 14 children and two pregnant women, tearing fetuses from their wombs and devouring their hearts while still warm. One of his victims was his own son, whose brains he was said to have eaten in a fit of bloodlust. Reports also described cannibalistic behavior involving livestock and claims that he gorged on lambs, goats, and sheep alongside his human victims.

Beyond murder and cannibalism, Stumpp was accused of incestuous acts with his daughter, Beele, who was condemned to die with him. He was also believed to have had sexual relations with a distant relative—also considered incest under the law—and admitted to having intercourse with a demonic succubus sent by Satan himself.

His arrest in 1589 led to a confession extracted under extreme torture. Stumpp claimed to have hunted and killed under the guise of a werewolf for decades, driven by the Devil’s powers. His confessions, though likely coerced, were detailed and horrifying enough to justify one of the most brutal executions on record.

On October 31, 1589, Peter Stumpp was executed alongside his daughter Beele and his mistress Katherine.