Bio

Lars Roger Karlsson was born on 24 June 1968 in Falu Kristine Parish in Falun, Sweden. In 1971 his family moved to Gothenburg. Shortly after the move his parents divorced and his father moved to Stockholm. Karlsson lived with his mother in an apartment in Mölndal and had only occasional contact with his father. He had no siblings and his mother never remarried.

Karlsson later described his childhood as safe, stable, and harmonious. A background investigation by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service in the early 1990s reported that the family had a good financial situation. His mother worked in the restaurant industry and held several managerial positions.

At school, Karlsson had little difficulty both academically and socially. Teachers and staff described him as considerate and helpful. They said he had a strong interest in history and religion and often assisted his classmates.

He attended the natural science program at Hvitfeldtska Upper Secondary School in Gothenburg. He graduated with an average grade of 4.5 and spent one year as an exchange student in the United States. Former classmates described him as calm and gentle, and one said he “looked like Jesus.” While studying he also worked part-time as a bartender.

Karlsson later reported that his inner life differed from his outward appearance. He said that for about 16 years he had struggled with self-destructive behavior, including attempts to jump from windows and repeated self-harm. He said he was sometimes frightened by his own aggressiveness and that earlier violent acts had been directed at himself and at objects rather than other people.

Murder Story

Between 29 January and 1 February 2001, Roger Karlsson killed three people in Gothenburg. The victims were all people who had been personally close to him.

The first victim was Maria Graciete Martins Domingues, born 13 January 1972. Her body was found near the Albatross Golf Club on Hisingen. She was buried on 1 March 2001 at the Eastern Cemetery in Gothenburg.

The second victim was Cecilia Berglund, born 1 May 1968. She was killed in an apartment in Olskroken. She was buried on 26 April 2001 at Kikås Cemetery in Mölndal Municipality.

The third victim was restaurateur Lars Hansson, born 5 January 1945. He was killed on a central Gothenburg street at the intersection of Sten Sturegatan and Skånegatan. He was buried on 23 September at the Eastern Cemetery in Gothenburg.

After the third killing, Karlsson surrendered to police without resistance. He confessed to all three murders but said his memory of parts of the events was fragmented. He was unable to give clear motives for the killings of the two women.

Psychiatric evaluations found that Karlsson suffered from a severe psychotic disorder at the time of the crimes. In June 2001, Gothenburg District Court found him guilty of three counts of murder. He was sentenced to compulsory forensic psychiatric care instead of prison.

Karlsson responded to treatment and his condition improved. In late 2002 he was allowed to move freely within the hospital grounds. In early 2003 he was granted unescorted leave outside the hospital. Appellate courts later ruled that his treatment had been successful and that the risk of reoffending was considered low. By the autumn of 2003 he was living in the community on continuous leave under strict conditions while formally remaining under psychiatric care.

Medical assessments concluded that Karlsson had suffered an acute psychotic break at the time of the killings. The assessments cited long-term substance abuse and a fixation on perceived betrayals as contributing factors. Karlsson later expressed remorse, acknowledged the suffering he had caused, and said he wished to live a quiet life away from Gothenburg while remaining under long-term psychiatric supervision.