A 68-year-old man in Berlin faces serious charges after allegedly drugging, raping, and recording at least 14 women, with investigations pointing to a total of 58 potential victims. The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office has formally charged him with 22 counts of aggravated rape, accompanied by severe bodily harm and violations of the victims’ image rights in every case.

The suspect, held in pretrial detention since March 3, 2026, reportedly met his victims through online dating platforms. According to prosecutors, he sedated them using a combination of sleeping pills and alcohol before committing the assaults. Many victims only became aware of the crimes after being shown the videos during police interrogations, as they did not recall the events themselves.

This case came to light following an investigation by police in Verden an der Aller, Lower Saxony, who had been probing similar accusations against another man who has since died. Early in 2025, authorities discovered chat messages linking the Berlin suspect to the deceased man, prompting Berlin prosecutors to open their own investigation in March 2025.

Initially, police searched the suspect’s Berlin residence for pornographic material but found no evidence of more serious crimes. It wasn’t until February 2026 that a forensic expert uncovered numerous videos depicting sexual offenses on a seized data device. This discovery led to a second search and the suspect’s arrest on March 3, 2026.

Out of the 58 alleged victims, ten remain unidentified, and investigations continue for 30 others. In three cases, there was insufficient evidence to proceed. One particularly harrowing case involved a woman reportedly raped 36 times between 2010 and 2014; however, prosecutors had to close this case due to the statute of limitations.

Unlike other cases, the videos did not clearly show whether sedatives were administered, a factor that would extend the statute of limitations from five to 20 years due to the use of violence. The accused has not publicly commented on the charges. The prosecution is also seeking a preventive detention order to keep him incarcerated after serving any prison sentence.

This case highlights ongoing challenges in addressing sexual violence and the importance of digital evidence in bringing perpetrators to justice. For communities navigating safety and trust—whether in Germany or abroad—such investigations underscore the critical role of law enforcement and legal frameworks in protecting vulnerable individuals.