I know this seems like a really random topic but I have been fascinated by this story ever since I learned about Björn Pétursson (Axlar-Björn) some months ago. The Iceland we know of today has been ranked as one the most peaceful countries in the world since the Global Peace Index was launched 13 years ago. However, this country definitely has had some gruesome murders in its past. Many of those murders were linked to disputes, such as those in some of the Sagas. Björn was an exception.
It is important to point out that even though Björn Pétursson was a real person that was a convicted serial killer, the many sources that recount his life and murders sometimes conflict. They are also considered to have some elements of folklore weaved in, so just keep that in mind as I go through this episode.
Warning about the content - not suitable for young children or those who feel uneasy hearing about the details of a gruesome murder.
Was Axlar-Björn Destined to be a Serial Killer?
While there are many reasons why a person might become a serial killer, it seems that Björn was destined to be so before he was even born. Björn's parents, Pétur and Sigríður, lived on the stunning Snæfellnes peninsula back in the 16th century. His father worked as a ploughman for a Ormur, a man who owned the farm Knörr. Pétur and Sigríður already had two children before Sigríður became pregnant with Björn. During her pregnancy, she had nightmares and craved the test of human blood.
I’ve never been pregnant but I think it is safe to assume that craving human blood is not normal. What is even more interesting about this story is that her husband Pétur wanted to appease his wife so he offered her to drink his blood to satisfy her craving. While that did do the trick, Sigríður was getting a very uneasy feeling. At some point she confessed to a female farmhand that she believes that the child she is carrying will be some kind of monster.
Björn was born in 1555 and he seemed like a pretty normal kid. At the age of four, his parents sent him to live with Ormur. Pétur and Ormur were good friends and because Ormur had a lot of money and influence, it seemed like a good opportunity for Björn to live with him. During those times it was common practice to have your child fostered by wealthier people because it can be difficult for a less fortunate family to feed and take care of all of their children. Björn adjusted to his new home and even became buddies with Guðmundur, Ormur’s son.
A Dream that Changed His Life Forever
It wasn’t until Björn was a teenager that the monster inside of him started to bubble to the surface. Like some teens, he developed a bad temper and was quite closed off. However, a turning point for him is when he missed mass one Sunday and fell asleep. During his dream, a man offered him a plate with pieces of raw meat. Without hesitation, he scarfed down the meat pieces. He only became nauseous after the eighteenth bite! This mysterious man in his dream then told him to go Mount Axlarhyrna because there Björn will find an instrument waiting for him. The man added that this instrument will serve him well in the years to come.
At his first opportunity, Björn went to the top of the mountain and there he found an ax. Not long after this, a young boy who worked as a farmhand at Knörr, the same farm in which Björn was born, disappeared. Years later, Björn confessed to killing the boy with the axe and burying him in a big pile of manure.
