German Doctor Stands Trial for 15 Murders in Shocking Medical Serial Killing Case
A chilling murder trial has opened in Berlin, where a 40-year-old German doctor, identified by authorities only as Johannes M. in line with the country’s privacy laws, is facing charges over the murder of 15 palliative care patients.
The trial, which began on Monday, July 14, has shaken Germany’s medical and legal institutions, with prosecutors accusing the physician of committing the killings over a nearly three-year span between September 2021 and July 2024.
According to court filings, Johannes M. is alleged to have administered fatal doses of anesthetics and muscle relaxants to patients under his care, many of whom were seriously ill but not necessarily terminal.
The substances caused rapid respiratory paralysis, leading to almost immediate death. Prosecutors allege that these acts were carried out with deliberate intent and base motives, and they are pushing for a life sentence with a formal ruling of “particular severity of guilt,” a legal classification in Germany that rules out parole even after 15 years.
The investigation began in earnest after suspicions were raised in mid-2024 following a cluster of unexplained deaths. Johannes M. was arrested in August 2024, initially in connection with four cases, but as authorities dug deeper, the list of victims expanded.
A special police unit reviewed nearly 400 cases tied to his practice, with 95 flagged for deeper investigation and 75 still pending. Among the additional deaths being examined is that of his mother-in-law, which occurred in Poland, indicating the potential for an even broader scope of crimes.
In a disturbing twist, investigators also claim that Johannes M. set fires at the homes of at least some of his victims in what is believed to be an effort to destroy evidence or divert suspicion.
These arson attempts, coupled with the methodical manner of the alleged killings, have drawn comparisons to previous high-profile medical serial killers in Germany, including Niels Högel, a former nurse convicted in 2019 for the murders of at least 85 patients.
Court proceedings are expected to span several months, with the schedule currently set for 35 hearing days running through January 2026. Around 150 witnesses are expected to testify, including 13 relatives of the deceased. Johannes M., who remains in custody, has thus far refused to testify in court or undergo psychiatric evaluation.
As a result, an independent psychiatric expert will evaluate him through observation over the course of the trial.
Prosecutors are also seeking a permanent revocation of his medical license and preventive detention—a provision in German law that allows for indefinite confinement if an individual is deemed a continuing danger to society. The courtroom has been filled with grief-stricken families, many of whom have expressed anger and disbelief that such acts could have been committed by a trusted medical professional.
The case has revived public concerns about oversight mechanisms in the German healthcare system, particularly in palliative care and home treatment settings, where patients are often vulnerable and reliant on caregivers’ ethical standards.
As the trial unfolds, the country is watching closely, not just for justice in this individual case, but also for answers to broader questions about how such crimes could occur undetected for so long within the medical establishment.
