crime
43-year-old is said to have forced older men to commit suicide
A policewoman is standing in front of the regional court in Bielefeld. (Archive image) Photo: Friso Gentsch/dpa
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A man has been in custody since March for attempted murder out of greed. He is accused of forcing other men to appoint him as heirs and of having forced them to commit suicide.
A 43-year-old is said to have extorted wills in his favor from older men he had met through an online dating platform and then forced the victims to commit suicide.
The suspect was arrested on March 10 and taken into custody for attempted murder out of greed, the Paderborn public prosecutor and the Bielefeld police reported on Thursday. The man has been in a psychiatric clinic since the end of March because of mental problems.
In one case, a 77-year-old actually attempted suicide and was critically injured, the investigators said. In a second case involving a 69-year-old, a passer-by became aware of the apathetic man sitting in a car and called the emergency services. In the hospital, the senior then accused the 43-year-old.
Beaten, insulted, humiliated
According to the report, the suspect is said to have beaten, insulted, continuously humiliated and refused the 69-year-old for two days in accommodation in Hilter am Teutoburg Forest in Lower Saxony. In the end, the victim made a will that favored the 43-year-old.
According to the police and public prosecutor’s office, the 43-year-old is said to have taken care of the older men in both cases and then used various legends and pressure to force larger amounts of money and appointment as heir or guardian. Investigations into possible other victims continued, the statement said.