A 40-year-old German palliative care doctor has been charged with the murder of 15 patients, according to prosecutors in Berlin. The doctor, whose name has not been disclosed due to Germany's privacy laws, is accused of administering a lethal combination of drugs to 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024. The ages of the victims ranged from 25 to 94.
The doctor allegedly used an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to cause respiratory arrest and death within minutes. He is also accused of attempting to cover up his crimes by setting fire to the homes of five victims. In one instance, the doctor reportedly killed two patients in a single day in July 2024 and attempted to set fire to the home of a 76-year-old woman but failed.
Authorities initially suspected the doctor of killing four patients when he was arrested in August 2024, but further investigations have uncovered additional suspicious deaths. Investigators believe the number of victims could rise and have more exhumations planned to identify potential victims.
Prosecutors are seeking a lifelong professional ban and preventative detention for the suspect, who remains in custody.