German “Angel of Death” Nurse Investigated Over 120 New Deaths

German prosecutors are investigating more than 120 additional suspicious deaths linked to a former nurse already serving a life sentence for murder, according to the dpa news agency. Investigators have exhumed dozens of bodies across two regions as the scale of the case continues to expand.

Exhumations Expand Across Aachen and Cologne

Authorities have exhumed 39 bodies in connection with the ongoing investigation in Aachen, according to the Aachen public prosecutor’s office. A further seven corpses have been exhumed by prosecutors in Cologne. The suspect previously worked at a hospital in Cologne until 2020 before moving to a clinic in Würselen.

Previous Convictions and Court Findings

The regional court in Aachen sentenced the former healthcare worker to life imprisonment in November of last year. According to the court’s verdict, the man was convicted of ten counts of murder and 27 counts of attempted murder. The panel also established that his degree of guilt was particularly severe, a legal designation under German law that practically rules out early release after 15 years.

During the trial, prosecutors stated that the man played “lord over life and death.” The court found that he administered excessively high doses of sedatives—sometimes combined with painkillers—to severely ill patients during his night shifts. Die Zeit reported that the suspect’s motive stemmed from personal irritation and his own rigid concept of order. The former caregiver denied the allegations during the trial.

Timeline of the Investigation

The acts that led to the initial conviction occurred between December 2023 and May 2024. Investigators are now probing possible murders committed even earlier. A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office stated that the current inquiry stretches back to September 2022. A new indictment in the expanded case is expected early next year at the earliest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many deaths are currently under investigation?

Prosecutors in Aachen are actively investigating more than 120 new suspicious deaths linked to the former nurse, alongside the ten murders for which he was already convicted.

How many bodies have been exhumed so far?

A total of 46 bodies have been exhumed, with 39 handled by the Aachen prosecutor’s office and seven by authorities in Cologne.

When is the next trial expected?

According to the public prosecutor’s office, a new indictment in the expanded investigation is anticipated early next year at the earliest.