Convicted German killer nurse probed over dozens more deaths

German prosecutors are investigating a widening circle of suspicious deaths that could be linked to a palliative care nurse already serving a life sentence for murder. The man, identified by German media as Ulrich S., worked at a hospital in Wuerselen near Aachen.

He was convicted in November for the murder of 10 patients and the attempted murder of 27 others. Prosecutors in that trial stated he injected elderly patients with high doses of sedatives or painkillers, allegedly to reduce his workload during night shifts. The court also determined that his offenses carried a "particular severity of guilt," potentially barring him from early release.

Following his conviction, the investigation has expanded. Prosecutors in Aachen are now examining 121 cases they believe may be connected to the nurse, with new charges potentially filed next year. Nearly 40 bodies have been exhumed as part of this new inquiry, which covers incidents dating back to September 2022. Additionally, prosecutors in Cologne are investigating 18 further cases, the earliest of which dates back to 2010, suggesting a pattern of activity potentially spanning over a decade.

This case draws parallels to that of nurse Niels Hoegel, who received a life sentence in 2019 for murdering 85 patients, making him modern Germany's most prolific serial killer. Hoegel administered lethal injections between 2000 and 2005. The investigation into Ulrich S. also comes shortly after a palliative care doctor in Berlin was sentenced to life for murdering 15 people with lethal sedatives, with allegations of arson to cover up the killings.