During this meeting, the devil gifted Peter with a magical girdle or belt that allowed him to transform into “the likeness of a greedy, devouring wolf, strong and mighty, with eyes great and large, which in the night sparkled like fire, a mouth great and wide, with most sharp and cruel teeth, a huge body, and mighty paws.” Whenever Peter removed the belt, he would return to his human form.

Background

The sordid events of Peter’s life and his cruel and brutal death are quite lurid. Although records from this time period are scarce, it is widely believed that Peter Stumpp was born around 1535 in the village of Epprath, near Bedburg in the Electorate of Cologne. At some point, he lost his left hand, leaving him with only a stump. It is assumed by many that his last name was a reference to his disability and was not his actual last name.

This is further backed up by the fact that his last name had several variations, including Stube, Stub, Stubbe, and Stumpf. Additionally, he used several aliases during his life, including Abal Griswold, Abil Griswold, and Ubel Griswold.

Monster in Disguise

Stumpp was a wealthy farmer and widower with two adolescent children. He was generally well-regarded in the community; however, no one knew the perverse wickedness that lurked beneath his pleasant exterior. This dual nature allowed him to get away with his crimes for 25 years.

He would eventually be charged with murdering and devouring 14 children, one of whom was his own son, as well as two pregnant women and their fetuses, which were brutally torn out from their mothers.

"The Werewolf of Bedburg": The Damnable Life…

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