German Doctor Charged With Murdering 15 Palliative Patients
A palliative care doctor in Germany has been charged with murdering 15 patients, allegedly using a lethal mix of anaesthetic and muscle relaxant that, according to prosecutors, "paralysed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes." The 40-year-old suspect, who worked across several German states, is also accused of setting fires at his victims' homes to destroy evidence, and sometimes even contacting relatives or emergency services to cover his tracks.
Investigators believe the killings happened between September 2021 and July 2024, with victims ranging in age from 25 to 94. Prosecutors say the doctor, who has not been named, acted out of "lust for murder" and tried to hide his crimes on multiple occasions — including one day in July when he allegedly killed two patients just hours apart. The investigation, which began when four suspicious deaths raised alarms, has since uncovered dozens more cases under review, with further exhumations planned.
The case has drawn comparisons to some of Germany’s most notorious serial killers, including nurse Niels Hoegel, who was convicted in 2019 for murdering 85 patients. Prosecutors are pushing for a life sentence and a "lifelong professional ban" for the doctor, who remains in custody and has yet to admit to the charges.
