Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
63
“She’s Still Alive”: First Person To Use Euthanasia Pod Found With “Strangulation Marks” On Neck
A secluded forest near Merishausen, Switzerland, became the center of controversy when a so-called “suicide capsule” claimed its first life under deeply questionable circumstances.
The death of an unnamed 64-year-old woman from the U.S. Midwest led to multiple arrests after she became the first person to use the “Sarco” pod—a high-tech device promising a “peaceful, dignified” end to life.
Highlights
- A U.S. woman became the first to use the Sarco pod—a high-tech device that promises a “peaceful, dignified” end to life.
- The death of the mother-of-two raised disturbing questions after an autopsy reportedly found “strangulation marks” on her neck
- Dr. Florian Willet, president of The Last Resort—the organization behind the Sarco pod—was arrested.
- Exit International was the organization behind the development of the $1 million device.
The mother-of-two was reportedly found with strangulation marks on her neck, raising suspicions of an intentional homicide.
RELATED:
A 64-year-old American woman became the first person to use the Sarco pod—a high-tech device that promises a “peaceful, dignified” end to life
Image credits: The Last Resort
Image credits: The Last Resort
Dr. Florian Willet, president of The Last Resort—the organization behind the Sarco pod—was arrested by Swiss police shortly after the woman’s death inside the nitrogen-filled capsule.
The doctor, who was the only individual present when the woman died, currently remains in custody, according to UK news outlet LBC.
Philip Nitschke, inventor of the Sarco pod and founder of the Netherlands-based assisted suicide group Exit International, was present via video call during the woman’s death. However, due to technical issues, he was reportedly unable to observe the entire event.
Exit International is also the organization behind the development of the $1 million device.
An autopsy reportedly revealed “strangulation marks” on the woman’s neck, prompting Schaffhausen’s public prosecutor, Peter Sticher, to “broaden the investigation to consider the possibility of murder,” according to local news outlets.
The death of the mother-of-two raised disturbing questions after an autopsy reportedly found “strangulation marks” on her neck
Image credits: The Last Resort
Image credits: The Last Resort
LBC reported that about six-and-a-half minutes after the American woman pressed the button to end her life, Dr. Florian told the pod’s designer over video call: “She’s still alive, Philip”.
Both groups, The Last Resort and Exit International, released a joint statement on Tuesday denying the claims of injuries on the woman’s neck.
“The Last Resort and Exit International maintain that the Sarco worked precisely as planned and the user died peacefully from nitrogen hypoxia,” read the statement. “The allegations of intentional homicide are ridiculous and absurd. The Last Resort and Exit International strongly reject these allegations.”
Both The Last Resort and Exit International deny foul play, releasing a joint statement asserting the pod functioned as intended
Image credits: The Last Resort
The groups maintain that the recorded film footage from two cameras, one inside and one outside the euthanasia pod, captured the woman entering the pod without any assistance.
“The woman closed the lid of the Sarco unaided. The woman pressed the internal activation button herself. The lid of the Sarco was not opened until forensic staff arrived at the scene of the Sarco at 19.22 on 23 September 2024,” the statement said.
“Furthermore, the level of oxygen was recorded and can be shown to have remained at lethal levels within the capsule until well after the woman had died,” the statement added.
The Last Resort previously told the Daily Mail that around 120 applicants wished to use the Sarco to bring their lives to an end. However, usage of the Sarco pod was suspended as the investigation into the first user’s death is currently underway.
If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm or suicide ideation, help is available. _International Hotlines _provide resources.
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
What do you think ?
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 month ago
So... what is being implied here? The nitrogen didn't work, so Dr. Florian ripped open the pod and strangled her himself? Or the pod has some secret built-in "ligature" feature that whips a rope noose over the person's neck when they press the "unalive me" button? Or maybe, just maybe, because it's DIFFICULT TO TEST A SUICIDE DEVICE, the nitrogen mixture perhaps wasn't perfect and the woman had a hypercapnic alarm response because she felt like she was suffocating, and clawed/grabbed at her own neck? I'm actually all for voluntary euthanasia and I believe in the right to die, especially in cases where the person is suffering from a terminal illness or condition or is suffering with no hope of recovery. I hope that the facts actually come out in this case, as terminally-ill patients have been fighting for the right to die on their own terms for a long time now.
Sue User 1 month ago
My thought exactly. She may have done this to herself. Hopefully the video helps figure things out.
Load More Replies...
Ace 1 month ago
Please change the clickbait headline/title. There's nothing to those allegations.
Scotira 1 month ago (edited)
I tried to find some credible sources however 🙄 couldn't find any 🤷♀️ edit: by credible I mean Swiss originated sources however credible those might be 😅
Load More Replies...
TribbleThinking 1 month ago
Why does it take a million dollar device? Just an older banger with an exhaust pipe does the same job without all the furore.
Becky Samuel 1 month ago
Because dignity. Because people with degenerative conditions often aren't able to do what needs to be done for themselves. Because who the heck has an 'old banger' just sitting about? Because people actually care about those who are going to find them and don't want to traumatise them.
Load More Replies...
Guess Undheit 1 month ago
False accusations of murder have been the entire opposition claim against self-euthanasia. Even here where she entered voluntarily, pushed the button herself, and there was no violence, liars STILL make the false claim. Like the clown that "wrote" the headline.
Martina Külling 1 month ago
The comment in swiss radio and newspaper: But what about the alleged strangulation marks? A person close to The Last Resort told the NZZ that the deceased suffered from osteomyelitis at the base of the skull, i.e. an infection of the bone marrow. This caused the suspicious men
Kristen Veader 1 month ago
I think they need to PUT THE CUSHION THE RIGHT WAY AROUND in all the pictures! The way it is now, your feet would be elevated so your knees bend backwards! (it's too far down to be under your knees) I think the bump is supposed to be under your head.... at least I hope so!
Kristal 1 month ago (edited)
Can't false strangulation looking marks show up? I'm not in the medical field at all but, I mean, if there is untampered proof then maybe they should be looking at the medical examiner for incompetence
Martina Külling 1 month ago
This was in our newspaper and srf radio But what about the alleged strangulation marks? A person close to The Last Resort told the NZZ that the deceased suffered from osteomyelitis at the base of the skull, i.e. an infection of the bone marrow. This caused the suspicious men
Load More Replies...
Abe Hartman 1 month ago
The biggest issue I see with self-euthanasia is the risk of normalizing it.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 month ago
Why shouldn't it be normalized - for the provably terminally ill?
Load More Replies...
antoinette maldari 1 month ago
Maybe it's the lighting, but that cushion/mattress pad looks kinda worn?
Marketable 1 month ago
Kudos to Binitha Jacob for a well-written, thoughtful, well-investigated, neutral article! Nice to read real journalism that was not investigated and written by political conservatives. As for the allegations, I note that the woman wanted to die, no question, so my view is even assuming someone did step in mercifully to finish the job, there is no crime - regardless of the various levels and degrees of our homicide laws.
n75mk9nk2n 1 month ago
What's the difference? This woman wanted to no longer be alive. She is now no longer alive. Whether she was 'strangulated' (stupid censorship) or nitrogen'd, the company that she wanted to unalive her has succeeded in doing so.
Max Fox 1 month ago
I will only support voluntary euthanasia when medical care is affordable. It is far to easy for it to force poor people to do this because they don't want to become a burden on their families if they have a treatable condition, but the treatment is too expensive for them. I believe that the insurance companies will find ways to convince or force their customers to use a Sarco, which would cost the Insurance company $20, instead of treatments that would cost the Insurance company hundreds of thousands.
Mari 1 month ago (edited)
Yes, people don't believe this could happen but I already heared from cases in The Netherlands that eldery people are "pushed" to commit euthanasia. It starts with praising people who chose to commit euthanasia (in the media) those people chose for a dignified end and did not cause any burden to their childeren. Hearing this all time creates a pressure or expectation, insecure eldery people begin to doubt and consider whether they should not also choose euthanasia after all. Because they don't want to be a burden for their childeren or society. And the greedy insurance industry will try everything to target their losses.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 month ago
So... what is being implied here? The nitrogen didn't work, so Dr. Florian ripped open the pod and strangled her himself? Or the pod has some secret built-in "ligature" feature that whips a rope noose over the person's neck when they press the "unalive me" button? Or maybe, just maybe, because it's DIFFICULT TO TEST A SUICIDE DEVICE, the nitrogen mixture perhaps wasn't perfect and the woman had a hypercapnic alarm response because she felt like she was suffocating, and clawed/grabbed at her own neck? I'm actually all for voluntary euthanasia and I believe in the right to die, especially in cases where the person is suffering from a terminal illness or condition or is suffering with no hope of recovery. I hope that the facts actually come out in this case, as terminally-ill patients have been fighting for the right to die on their own terms for a long time now.
Sue User 1 month ago
My thought exactly. She may have done this to herself. Hopefully the video helps figure things out.
Load More Replies... Ace 1 month ago
Please change the clickbait headline/title. There's nothing to those allegations.
Scotira 1 month ago (edited)
I tried to find some credible sources however 🙄 couldn't find any 🤷♀️ edit: by credible I mean Swiss originated sources however credible those might be 😅
Load More Replies... TribbleThinking 1 month ago
Why does it take a million dollar device? Just an older banger with an exhaust pipe does the same job without all the furore.
Becky Samuel 1 month ago
Because dignity. Because people with degenerative conditions often aren't able to do what needs to be done for themselves. Because who the heck has an 'old banger' just sitting about? Because people actually care about those who are going to find them and don't want to traumatise them.
Load More Replies... Guess Undheit 1 month ago
False accusations of murder have been the entire opposition claim against self-euthanasia. Even here where she entered voluntarily, pushed the button herself, and there was no violence, liars STILL make the false claim. Like the clown that "wrote" the headline.
Martina Külling 1 month ago
The comment in swiss radio and newspaper: But what about the alleged strangulation marks? A person close to The Last Resort told the NZZ that the deceased suffered from osteomyelitis at the base of the skull, i.e. an infection of the bone marrow. This caused the suspicious men
Kristen Veader 1 month ago
I think they need to PUT THE CUSHION THE RIGHT WAY AROUND in all the pictures! The way it is now, your feet would be elevated so your knees bend backwards! (it's too far down to be under your knees) I think the bump is supposed to be under your head.... at least I hope so!
Kristal 1 month ago (edited)
Can't false strangulation looking marks show up? I'm not in the medical field at all but, I mean, if there is untampered proof then maybe they should be looking at the medical examiner for incompetence
Martina Külling 1 month ago
This was in our newspaper and srf radio But what about the alleged strangulation marks? A person close to The Last Resort told the NZZ that the deceased suffered from osteomyelitis at the base of the skull, i.e. an infection of the bone marrow. This caused the suspicious men
Load More Replies... Abe Hartman 1 month ago
The biggest issue I see with self-euthanasia is the risk of normalizing it.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 month ago
Why shouldn't it be normalized - for the provably terminally ill?
Load More Replies... antoinette maldari 1 month ago
Maybe it's the lighting, but that cushion/mattress pad looks kinda worn?
Marketable 1 month ago
Kudos to Binitha Jacob for a well-written, thoughtful, well-investigated, neutral article! Nice to read real journalism that was not investigated and written by political conservatives. As for the allegations, I note that the woman wanted to die, no question, so my view is even assuming someone did step in mercifully to finish the job, there is no crime - regardless of the various levels and degrees of our homicide laws.
n75mk9nk2n 1 month ago
What's the difference? This woman wanted to no longer be alive. She is now no longer alive. Whether she was 'strangulated' (stupid censorship) or nitrogen'd, the company that she wanted to unalive her has succeeded in doing so.
Max Fox 1 month ago
I will only support voluntary euthanasia when medical care is affordable. It is far to easy for it to force poor people to do this because they don't want to become a burden on their families if they have a treatable condition, but the treatment is too expensive for them. I believe that the insurance companies will find ways to convince or force their customers to use a Sarco, which would cost the Insurance company $20, instead of treatments that would cost the Insurance company hundreds of thousands.
Mari 1 month ago (edited)
Yes, people don't believe this could happen but I already heared from cases in The Netherlands that eldery people are "pushed" to commit euthanasia. It starts with praising people who chose to commit euthanasia (in the media) those people chose for a dignified end and did not cause any burden to their childeren. Hearing this all time creates a pressure or expectation, insecure eldery people begin to doubt and consider whether they should not also choose euthanasia after all. Because they don't want to be a burden for their childeren or society. And the greedy insurance industry will try everything to target their losses.
Load More Replies... You May Like Woman’s “Pulverized” Body Found In Condo, Victim's Parents Accuse Husband Of "Abuse And Terror" Woman Who Survived Being Pushed Off Cliff By Husband Now Says He Demands $4 Million For Divorce Teen, 16, Jailed For 12 Years For Attempted Homicide Of 14-Year-Old Boy, Attacked By Mistake
Binitha Jacob
Binitha Jacob
Karina Babenok
Related on Bored Panda
-7
60