Netflix Doc Exposes Berlin's Nightlife Serial Killer

Netflix's Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer documents one of Berlin's most shocking crimes—a serial murder spree targeting gay men in the city's nightlife scene during summer 2012. Director Joe Berlinger and producers the Beetz Brothers trace the hunt for Xerxes Seuthe, who poisoned five men with knockout drugs in Berlin's gay clubs. The series launched December 6, 2024, as the first international edition of Netflix's Crime Scene anthology.

Five Deaths in Berlin's Gay Club Scene

Between June and September 2012, a series of mysterious deaths shook Berlin's gay community. Five men—Roberto A. (27, Spanish), Felix D. (27), Marek T. (34, Polish), Pierre S. (34, French), and physician Dr. Björn P. (41)—died following encounters at well-known venues including Berghain and SchwuZ. Autopsies revealed all five had been poisoned with GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate).

Xerxes Seuthe, then 30 years old, worked as a waiter and DJ on Berlin's gay scene. He lured victims through dating apps and personal contacts before administering lethal doses of GHB in their drinks. Police quickly determined the murders were not robberies—the perpetrator had sadistic motives. During trial, Seuthe confessed: "I wanted them unconscious and in my control."