A doctor arrested in Berlin last August is now under suspicion for the murder of eight patients, with investigators revealing that he may have attempted to destroy evidence by starting fires. This troubling information emerged during a report by authorities on Thursday.

Previously, the doctor, who worked with a palliative care team from a nursing service, faced allegations of killing four elderly patients in the months of June and July. At that time, he was also thought to have started fires in their residences, though his efforts to cover his actions were only partially effective.

As investigators delved deeper into patient records and conducted forensic examinations, more cases came to light. Authorities exhumed two of the suspected victims as part of this process. Among the earliest incidents was the suspected murder of a 70-year-old man in January, for which he allegedly used a deadly combination of medications. In another case in early April, it is claimed that he killed a 61-year-old woman in a similar manner. Shortly thereafter, he is thought to have murdered an 83-year-old man in a Berlin hospice using the same methods.

The investigation revealed yet another tragic incident in June, when the doctor purportedly killed a 70-year-old woman in her home and subsequently attempted to set her apartment on fire. Fortunately, firefighters were on the scene in time to contain the fire before it could spread to adjacent units.

Initially arrested on charges including manslaughter, arson, and attempted arson, prosecutors have since shifted their stance to classify the cases as murder. They argue that the evidence suggests the suspect may not have had any discernible motive beyond the acts of killing themselves.

Due to privacy laws in Germany, the suspect’s identity has remained confidential, and prosecutors have indicated that he has yet to respond to the serious allegations against him.