Berlin Police Investigating 75 Additional Cases
A doctor in his 40s in Germany has been brought to trial on charges of serially killing at least 15 patients.
On the 16th (local time), German daily Tagesspiegel and other local media reported that Berlin police recently arrested and indicted Johannes M (40) on suspicion of committing 15 murders between September 2021 and July last year, and are investigating links between him and 75 other cases.
According to reports, prosecutors found that the defendant, who worked as a palliative care physician at a nursing facility, killed patients by administering anesthetics and muscle relaxants unrelated to treatment. Palliative care doctors visit the homes of seriously ill patients to relieve pain and care for their families.
So far, 15 victims have been confirmed, including 3 men and 12 women, ranging in age from 25 to 94. Prosecutors consider this a planned crime stemming from a desire to kill.
The killings came to light after the defendant was arrested in August last year on charges of murder and arson for setting fire to conceal a crime at one victim’s apartment. Prosecutors initially began investigating four murder charges but identified 11 additional victims based on tips from staff at the nursing facility where he worked.
During the investigation, prosecutors examined 395 death cases and stated that 75 cases are still under investigation. Local media reported, "The actual number of victims may be higher."
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