After Werner Ferrari's Death: How Serial Killers Are Buried

Werner Ferrari, a convicted child killer, has died while serving his sentence in Lenzburg Prison. His death triggers a series of legal and administrative steps, as Swiss law ensures even prisoners receive a dignified burial.

Upon an inmate’s death in Lenzburg Penitentiary, prison officials immediately inform the police, the public prosecutor’s office, and the forensic institute. If an autopsy is required, a funeral home transports the body to the relevant facility for examination.

Most prisoners have relatives who decide on burial or cremation. If no next of kin is found, responsibility falls to the deceased’s official place of residence. In Ferrari’s case, this is likely Olten, where he was arrested in 1989. The municipality would then arrange and fund a basic funeral if no estate or family covers the costs.

Swiss burial regulations leave little flexibility for personal choices, such as grave location. However, the Swiss Federal Constitution guarantees human dignity, meaning even convicted criminals must receive a respectful burial. This marks a shift from historical practices, where some criminals were denied proper burials—sometimes left unburied or interred facedown.

A small memorial service may also take place inside the prison, depending on the deceased’s relationships with fellow inmates.

Ferrari’s death sets in motion a process governed by strict legal and municipal rules. The authorities in Olten will likely oversee his burial if no relatives come forward. Under Swiss law, his remains must be handled with the same dignity afforded to any other individual.