BERLIN — German prosecutors have launched an expanded investigation into Ulrich S., a former palliative care nurse already serving a life sentence for murder, after uncovering 121 additional suspicious cases potentially linked to his actions. The probe, announced Monday, includes the exhumation of 39 bodies and could lead to new charges next year.
Prosecutors in Aachen are examining incidents dating back to September 2022, while a separate investigation in Cologne is reviewing 18 additional cases, the earliest of which dates to 2010. The nurse, identified by German media as Ulrich S., was convicted in November 2024 for 10 murders and 27 attempted murders committed between December 2023 and May 2024 at a hospital in Wuerselen, near Aachen. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of early release due to the "particular severity of guilt."
Core Developments
- Prosecutors in Aachen have ordered 39 exhumations as part of the expanded investigation, with further forensic examinations planned.
- Prosecutors in Cologne have exhumed seven bodies in their parallel probe, which covers cases dating to 2010.
- The nurse is believed to have worked at a Cologne hospital prior to his tenure in Wuerselen, according to local media reports.
Details of the Original Conviction
During his trial, prosecutors described Ulrich S. as administering excessive doses of sedatives and painkillers to elderly patients during night shifts, sometimes repeatedly. The court found that his motive was to reduce his workload by incapacitating patients who required care overnight. The offenses were deemed to carry "particular severity of guilt," effectively barring early release after 15 years—a standard provision in German law for such crimes.
Scope of the New Investigation
The expanded probe now encompasses 121 cases in Aachen, covering a period from September 2022 onward, and 18 cases in Cologne, dating back to 2010. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether all cases will result in charges, but prosecutors have indicated that further charges could be filed in 2025.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile medical killings in Germany, including that of nurse Niels Hoegel, who was sentenced to life in 2019 for murdering 85 patients between 2000 and 2005. In a separate but related case, a Berlin palliative care doctor was sentenced to life in July for murdering 15 patients with lethal doses of sedatives.
Background and Timeline
- 2010–2022: Ulrich S. is believed to have worked at a hospital in Cologne, where some of the newly investigated cases occurred.
- 2020: He began working at the Rhein-Maas-Klinikum in Wuerselen.
- December 2023–May 2024: The original murders and attempted murders occurred during his night shifts.
- November 2024: Convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
- August 2025: Prosecutors announce the expanded investigation, including exhumations and potential new charges.