Episode
Peter Niers | 16th Century Black Magic Satanists
- Published
- May 7, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1382
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Summary
IntroThis episode might not be suitable for all members. It is marked explicit for content.Hello there, this is Spooky Boo from Spooky Boo’s Scary Story Time where I tell the true and fiction stories of the dark side of the internet.Today, during the true scary story time and true crime time, I have for you a spooky expose on the ancient serial killer Peter Niers. Back in the 16th century, Peter Niers was accused of cannibalism, black magic, and serial murder–a term that was not yet even thought of, yet some even believe he was a myth. Listen to this episode and let me know what you think.Now let’s begin…Peter Niers: The 16th-Century German Bandit, Alleged Serial Killer, Cannibal, and Black MagicianPeter Niers remains one of the most infamous and terrifying figures from the late 16th century in the Holy Roman Empire. Executed on September 16, 1581 in Germany, roughly 40 kilometers from Nuremberg, he was convicted, based on confessions that were extracted under torture, 544 murders. These included the ritualistic killing of 24 pregnant women, from whose wombs he allegedly excised fetuses for use in black magic rituals, cannibalism, and sorcery aimed at granting invisibility and other supernatural powers.His story is a potent blend of verifiable banditry in a lawless era and sensational folklore involving demonic pacts, shapeshifting, invisibility potions derived from fetal remains, and grotesque acts of violence. Early print culture—cheap pamphlets known, ballads, broadsheets, and emerging “true crime” reports—amplified his legend, transforming a dangerous highwayman and gang leader into a medieval boogeyman whose name instilled fear across regions. Whether the astronomical kill count and elaborate supernatural elements were wildly exaggerated by interrogators societal…