German nurse jailed for murders could be linked to 100 more deaths
An ex-nurse convicted of killing patients in western Germany may face new scrutiny. Officials now suspect links to more than 100 additional deaths. The case has shocked both the public and the medical community. Katja Schlenkermann-Pitts leads did investigation in Aachen. She told the BBC that many suspicious cases are under review. However, she stressed that these remain preliminary suspicions. Some cases may be dismissed after forensic testing. Therefore, authorities are proceeding carefully and methodically.
Conviction and Court Findings
In November last year, a regional court delivered a life sentence. The court convicted the former palliative care nurse of 10 murders. Judges also found him guilty of 27 attempted murders. The crimes occurred during night shifts at a hospital in Würselen. The nurse administered excessive sedatives and painkillers. He did so without medical justification, according to the court. Prosecutors said the drugs were sometimes given repeatedly. As a result, patients faced potentially fatal consequences.
Motive and Defense Claims
Judges concluded the actions were driven by personal unease. They said the nurse wanted control during night shifts. Prosecutors described him as playing “master of life and death”. The defendant denied all charges during the trial. He claimed he only wanted to help patients sleep. However, prosecutors cited irritation and lack of empathy.
New Suspected Cases and Exhumations
Most new suspected deaths relate to earlier periods of employment. Investigators have ordered about 60 exhumations. So far, 27 have been completed, with more planned. Autopsy results remain pending in many cases. In addition, prosecutors in Cologne have opened parallel inquiries. Any new trials are unlikely before 2027. The case recalls Germany’s Niels Högel scandal. He received a life sentence in 2019 for killing 85 patients.
