German doctor taken into custody over patient fatalities now linked to 10 murders

BERLIN — A physician in Berlin, initially apprehended in August on the suspicion of murdering four elderly patients, is now believed to have taken the lives of a total of ten individuals. Investigators revealed on Tuesday that the suspect allegedly attempted to destroy evidence by setting fires in five of these cases.

The unnamed doctor, who was part of a palliative care team associated with a nursing service, was originally implicated in the deaths of four patients during the months of June and July. Authorities indicated that he had attempted, with varying degrees of success, to ignite blazes in the apartments of those deceased. However, in November, further examinations led investigators to discover that he may have been responsible for the deaths of four additional patients, and on Tuesday, they added two more alleged murders to his charge list.

Law enforcement and prosecutors announced, in a coordinated statement, that these latest allegations came to light during the review of patient records and subsequent forensic analyses, including exhumations of the bodies.

Among the two most recent accusations is the alleged murder of a 25-year-old woman in her home in Berlin in September 2021. The doctor, who is now 40 years old, is suspected of administering a lethal concoction of drugs intended to end her life. Furthermore, a 57-year-old woman is claimed to have also fallen victim at her Berlin apartment last June, with investigators asserting that the doctor delivered a fatal combination of medications in this instance as well.

According to the findings shared by the police and prosecuting authorities, the accused reportedly acted without any apparent motive other than to kill, fulfilling the definition of “lust for murder” under legal terms. The investigation suggests that the killings occurred between September 2021 and the summer of the previous year.

Additionally, police have reached out to former colleagues of the suspect, as well as family members of patients who may have raised red flags about any unusual deaths. They encourage anyone with suspicions to come forward and assist with the investigation.

The identity of the doctor remains confidential due to German privacy regulations, and prosecutors have indicated that he has yet to offer a response to the serious allegations facing him.