Real Crime Stories/Paranormal Hauntings/Conspiracy Theories Book II

Killer Nurse: Niels Hogel

Niels Högel (born 30 December1976) is a German serial killer and former nurse who was sentencedto life imprisonment, initially for the murder of six patients, andlater convicted of a total of 85 murders.

Estimates of Högel's alleged victimcount have increased since his first conviction. In 2017 a policeinvestigation concluded that he was responsible for at least 90deaths, and later that year German prosecutors stated there were atleast 106 victims. In October 2018, Högel confessed to murdering 43patients. By May 2019, he was believed to be the most prolificserial killer in peacetime Germany, with up to 300 victims overfifteen years.

Background

Early life and education

Niels Högel was raised in the coastaltown of Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony in northern Germany. Both agrandmother and his father worked as nurses, his father formerlybeing employed at the Sankt-Willehad-Hospital [de] of Wilhelmshaven. His mother worked as a paralegal. He has an older sister. Accordingto Högel, he had a sheltered or "protected" childhoodand was not exposed to violence at home. On completing hisvocational training in 1997 at the Sankt-Willehad-Hospital, Högelbecame a nurse and continued working there.

Employment at Klinikum Oldenburg

From 1999 onwards, he was employed atthe "Klinikum Oldenburg", stationed in its cardiacsurgery intensive care unit. In August 2001, doctors and medicalorderlies of the hospital's ward 211 began discussing an unusualspike in both reanimations and deaths during the preceding months.Högel himself attended the aforementioned meeting. Most of theattempted reanimations and deaths were found to have occurred whileHögel was on duty. Years later, after having been apprehended byauthorities, Högel admitted to the police that, at the time of themeeting, he had thought to have been found out.

After the meeting, he called in sickfor the duration of three weeks. During that time, only two patientsin ward 211 died, significantly fewer than had prior to his sickleave. Statistically, 58% of all deaths at the hospital occurredwhile Högel was on duty. Under pressure by the cardiac surgery'shead physician, Högel was transferred to the anaesthesiology ward in2001. The ward's head physician allegedly also became suspicious ofhim, as Högel was frequently present in emergency situations. InSeptember 2002, the Oldenburg Clinic's head physician pressured Högelto resign from his position at the hospital, after multiple patientsunder Högel's care had been found in life threatening condition,for, at the time, inexplicable reasons. It was suggested, he eitherresign and continue to receive full wages for another three months,or transfer to the hospital's logistics unit, where he would assistmoving patients throughout the hospital. On 10 October 2002, hereceived a reference letter, issued by the Oldenburg Clinic'sDirector of Nursing. Therein, she testifies to Högel's "circumspect,diligent and autonomous" work ethic, as well as to himhaving acted "prudently and in an objectively correct mannerin critical situations". She also praises his "devotedness"and "cooperative conduct". The letter concludeswith an overall assessment of Högel having completed assigned tasks"to the utmost satisfaction".

Employment at Klinikum Delmenhorst

In December 2002, Högel transferred toKlinikum Delmenhorst. Emergencies and fatalities occurred there, too,when Högel was on duty, mostly due to arrythmia or sudden decreasesin blood pressure. This lead to some of his coworkers distancingthemselves from Högel. Off duty, Högel rode along in an ambulance,operated by the German Red Cross (DRK) station inGanderkesee-Bookhorn.