Nurse Niels Högel: Germany's worst serial killer
Niels Högel seemed to be an ordinary young man from a family of medical professionals. After finishing college, he followed in his father«s footsteps and got a job at a hospital.
But behind his friendly appearance and professional smile hid the most prolific serial killer in peacetime Germany«s history. Starting in 1999, Högel methodically killed patients in two major clinics—first in Oldenburg, then in Delmenhorst.
His «weapon» was heart medication. Lethal doses of the drugs caused arrhythmia and a sharp drop in blood pressure in patients. But why did the male nurse kill those he was supposed to save?
The motive was cynically simple: Högel wanted to look like a hero. He deliberately brought patients to a critical state and then «heroically» tried to resuscitate them. Sometimes he succeeded, and colleagues admired his professionalism. More often, the patients died.
Colleagues repeatedly noticed strange coincidences: the mortality rate spiked precisely during Högel«s shifts. He was transferred to another department, and then to another hospital. But he remained free until 2005.
What prevented authorities from stopping the maniac sooner? How many lives could have been saved? And how did this horrific story end? Watch the details in our short video.
