Elderly Man Found in Wheelchair, Bodies Discovered in Freezers – Concerns Rise in Finland
Finland is grappling with a series of unsettling cases involving vulnerable individuals and the handling of remains, prompting investigations and raising questions about elder care and death-care regulations. On , authorities continue to investigate the discovery of two bodies stored in freezers in Turku for nearly three decades, alongside a separate incident involving an elderly man found in a wheelchair in the cold.
Bodies Found After Three Decades
Police discovered the remains of an elderly couple in freezers in Turku during the summer of 2024, according to reports. The couple died of natural causes in 1994 and 1995, and were handed over to relatives for burial, but were never buried despite having a headstone erected in their name. The case centers around a physician, age 80, who is on trial for desecration of remains. Investigators reportedly learned from the doctor that he “wanted to preserve the bodies for the future.”
One of the bodies was transferred directly from a hospital to a freezer, according to police detective Lasse Heisti. He added that the suspect appeared to have acted out of a personal belief diverging from standard burial customs. “According to police, the [suspect] acted sincerely, and his background includes a world of thought that deviates from the mainstream,” Heisti said.
The discovery has exposed gaps in Finland’s grave license laws and weak oversight of death-care regulation. The maximum penalty for the crime of grave disturbance is a one-year prison term.
Elderly Man Found in Wheelchair
Separately, an elderly man was found in a wheelchair outside a convenience store in Port Arthur, prompting a police investigation. The man was wearing a hospital gown. Details surrounding this incident are limited, but it adds to growing concerns about the safety of vulnerable populations.
Katoamistapaus Turussa – Elderly Man Missing From Hospital
In a related incident, an elderly man went missing from the Turku University Hospital’s emergency department on a Monday prior to . He was later found outside, suffering from hypothermia, and returned to the hospital. The Varsinais-Suomi Wellbeing Area (Varha) has launched a serious incident investigation to determine how the man was able to leave the hospital grounds.
Pirjo Mustonen, Chief Medical Officer of Varha, stated that a report was also filed with the supervisory authority, the Licensing and Supervision Authority. “We always have a practice in these cases to start a serious incident investigation and make a report of the disappearance to the supervisory authority,” Mustonen said.
According to Varha, patient disappearances are relatively rare, with approximately one requiring police intervention per year. Vartijoita or security personnel are needed for a wider search about five times a year. We find roughly 50 cases annually where patients wander from one unit to another within the hospital, requiring security assistance.
Updated Guidelines for Disappearances
Varha updated its guidelines for patient disappearance cases last summer. The new guidelines clarify the roles of staff, security personnel, and the police during such events. Mustonen explained that the updated guidelines were necessary due to the diverse nature of Varha’s units and varying levels of security. The guidelines were reportedly followed in the recent case of the elderly man who went missing from the hospital.
When a patient goes missing, Varha staff assess the patient’s ability to survive, considering their health, medication, functional capacity, age, and weather conditions. They also evaluate whether the patient has access to money, food, or adequate clothing.
Rising Concerns Over Elder Care Facility Safety
These incidents come amid rising concerns over the safety and oversight of elder care facilities in Finland. A disturbing case in the Varsinais-Suomi welfare area, involving an elderly man found strangled and tied to a chair on , has ignited a national conversation about the quality of care provided to vulnerable populations. Police investigations are ongoing in that case.
Eeva-Sirkku Pöyhönen, Area Manager responsible for services for the elderly in Varsinais-Suomen welfare area, stated, “This is a horrific incident, and our immediate priority is to support the police investigation and ensure the safety of all residents within our care network.” Varha purchased the housing service from the company in question and is fully cooperating with authorities.
The incidents highlight a strain on Finland’s elder care system, which is facing a rapidly aging population, staffing shortages, and budgetary constraints.
