Hans Vollenweider was born on 11 February 1908 in Zurich, Switzerland. There is little documented detail about his early life, but by the time he was in his late 20s, Vollenweider had fallen deeply into criminal activity. In 1936, he committed a bank robbery, a serious offense that led to a prison sentence of two and a half years. However, even after completing his sentence, Swiss authorities considered him too dangerous to release. He remained imprisoned under preventive detention due to concerns about his behavior and risk to society. Despite the precautions, Vollenweider managed to escape custody in 1939.

Between 14 and 23 June 1939, Hans Vollenweider evaded capture across central Switzerland. During this nine-day escape, he committed three murders.

His first known victim was Hermann Zwyssig, a driver. Vollenweider shot him during his attempt to secure transportation while on the run. Soon after, he killed Emil Stoll, a local postman, likely to eliminate a witness. His third and final known victim was Alois von Moos, a police officer. This killing further intensified the national manhunt for Vollenweider, who had now attacked a member of law enforcement.

On 23 June 1939, after nine days of freedom and three murders, Hans Vollenweider was apprehended by the authorities. Due to the nature and brutality of his crimes, he was transferred between multiple prisons across various cantons. Ultimately, the case fell under the jurisdiction of the canton of Obwalden.

On 19 September 1940, the Obwalden Cantonal Court found Hans Vollenweider guilty of multiple murders and sentenced him to death. His appeal and subsequent plea for clemency were both denied, even though Switzerland had already scheduled the abolition of the death penalty in civilian courts effective 1 January 1942. This made Vollenweider’s execution highly controversial.

Nonetheless, the sentence stood. On the morning of 18 October 1940, just one month after his sentencing, Hans Vollenweider was led into the prison workshop in Sarnen, where he was executed by guillotine. The guillotine had been specially brought in from the neighboring canton of Lucerne for the task. In his final hours, Vollenweider declined a last meal, refused any spiritual guidance, and chose not to speak any last words.