Doctor in Berlin on Wednesday was indicted in the deaths of patients under palliative care

40-year-old doctor Dr Johannes M., allegedly ‘administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients  without their knowledge or consent’ – Berlin prosecutor

Johannes M. has been charged with “murder out of malice and other base motives” murder in the deaths of 15 patients

Prosecutors said he had no motive beyond killing so his acts meet the legal definition of ‘lust for murder’

He was part of a nursing service’s end-of-life care team and was initially suspected in the deaths of just four patients

That number since rose higher, after investigators found evidence linking him to the deaths of 12 women and three men between Sept. 2021 and July 2024

Victims ranged in age from 25 to 94, and most died in their own homes

Dr. Johannes M., who is accused of the murder over the deaths of 15 patients under palliative care, has been charged with ‘murder out of malice and other base motives’

A doctor in Berlin has been charged with murder over the deaths of 15 patients under palliative care, prosecutors said Wednesday, alleging he acted out of a ‘lust’ for killing. Dr Johannes M. is also accused of trying to cover up the evidence by starting fires in their homes.
The doctor was part of a nursing service’s end-of-life care team and was initially suspected in the deaths of just four patients.
That number has crept higher since last summer, and investigators now say they’ve found evidence linking him to the deaths of 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024.
The victims’ ages ranged from 25 to 94. Most died in their own homes.
In line with German privacy rules, local media identify the suspect only as Johannes M. and prosecutors have not released a name.
The 40-year-old doctor allegedly ‘administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients  without their knowledge or consent,’ according to a statement issued by the Berlin prosecutor’s office.
‘The latter paralyzed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes.’
Authorities previously said the suspect had no motive beyond killing, and that his acts meet the legal definition of ‘lust for murder.’
At the time of his arrest prosecutors believed there were four victims. In the course of their investigation, however, the number of alleged victims has risen from 8 to 15. More victims may yet come to light.
The accused has been in pretrial detention since August 6, 2024. The arrest warrant originally issued against him was repeatedly amended to include new charges during the course of the investigation. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges.
So far investigation have conducted twelve exhumations, five of which relate to cases that are the subject of the indictment.
The investigations being conducted by a multi-agency investigative team drawn from the Homicide Division of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office and the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office combed 395 cases. In 95 of these cases, initial suspicion was confirmed, and preliminary proceedings were initiated, while in five cases, the initial suspicion was not substantiated.
Investigations in 75 cases are still ongoing in separate proceedings. Twelve bodies have been exhumed so far, with five more exhumations have been scheduled planned for this separate proceeding..
Although the suspect who has been in custody since August 6, charged with ‘murder out of malice and other base motives’, given that his attacks were against patients rather than random members of the public.
In some of the 15 murders Johannes M has been charged with, he is also accused of setting fire to his victims’ homes to cover up the crimes, the prosecution said.
Those charges were filed to the Berlin state court, which will now have to decide if and when the case goes to trial.
Prosecutors have signaled that they will ask the court to establish that the suspect bears particularly severe guilt, which under German law carries a life sentence upon conviction and the convict will only be eligible for parole after serving a minimum 15 years in prison.
Prosecutors also want Dr Johannes M. to be banned from his profession for life. The beleaguered doctor so far, has declined to comment on the accusations.