Swiss authorities are conducting an in-depth investigation into the death of a 64-year-old American woman found deceased on September 23 inside a Sarco “suicide pod.” The incident, which took place in a secluded forested area near Merishausen close to the German border, has sparked significant attention due to a reported autopsy finding that the woman had strangulation marks on her neck, according to a report by Dutch publication de Volkskrant.
The Sarco pod, designed by Dr Philip Nitschke, founder of Exit International, is intended to allow users to end their lives independently by pressing an internal button, which releases nitrogen gas to induce a peaceful, quick death from oxygen deprivation. Swiss assisted-dying organisation The Last Resort facilitated the woman’s access to the device. Its president, Dr Florian Willet, who was reportedly the only person present at the time, remains in custody.
Swiss Chief Prosecutor Peter Sticher has raised questions over the cause of death, with media reports highlighting concerns that the situation may constitute an “intentional homicide.” This suspicion has been fuelled by the autopsy’s finding of neck injuries, typically inconsistent with the pod’s nitrogen-induced death mechanism.
Dr Willet’s account revealed additional details about the sequence of events. According to his testimony, the Sarco pod was opened and closed several times before the process began to check its airtight seal. The woman, located within the pod, reportedly pressed the control button to activate the nitrogen release. Roughly two and a half minutes into the process, Dr Willet observed what he described as “cramping” of her body, which he noted as a typical reaction in nitrogen-induced deaths.
Approximately six and a half minutes after the procedure commenced, an alarm sounded from the pod’s iPad, leading Dr Willet, who was on a call with Dr Nitschke at the time, to remark, “She’s still alive, Philip.” The alarm reportedly stopped a short time later, and about 30 minutes after the woman pressed the button, Dr Willet confirmed, “She really looks dead.”
Forensic experts presented in court testified that the woman’s neck bore injuries consistent with strangulation, heightening suspicions. Surveillance cameras—one installed within the pod focused on the button and another mounted on a nearby tree—recorded parts of the event. However, both cameras were motion-activated and did not capture continuous footage, according to de Volkskrant, which reviewed the video. The internal camera triggered twice in close succession around two minutes post-activation, but the angle reportedly did not provide a clear view of all events.
Swiss law imposes restrictions on assisted suicide, stipulating that such procedures must not involve any external interference or self-serving motive by those facilitating the death. Exit International has promoted the Sarco pod as a tool for individuals to end their lives autonomously, with minimal external intervention.
The Chief Prosecutor’s office has not yet issued a formal statement on the investigation, and Swiss officials have withheld public comment as inquiries into the circumstances continue.
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