Template:Healthcare serial murderers table
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Name | Date | Sex | Situation | Reason for suspicion | Direct evidence | Key evidence | Evidence of foul play | Motive | Tendency | Outcome | Appeal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
who (where) | date | sex | Unusually high number of [infant/adult/elderly] deaths. Initially attributed to natural causes | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care. | Direct evidence | Key evidence | Evidence of foul play | Motive Template:Cellgreenpink Tendency Template:Cellgreenpink Outcome Template:Cellgreenpink Appeal | |||
Jessie McTavish (Scotland) | 1974 | F | Victims found with inexplicable quantity of pethidine | Defendant witnessed injecting patient with phenobarbitone | Statements, apparent admission to police | Blood tests, admission of injections. Awareness of insuline as an MO for murder. | Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. | None. | None. | Convicted. | Acquitted on a technicality. |
Susan Nelles (Canada) |
1981 | F | Unusually high number of infant deaths. Initially attributed to natural causes |
Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care. |
None. | Shift pattern analysis. Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients. |
Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Expert opinion that deaths were “not natural”. | None. | None. | Charges dropped due to lack of evidence. | N/A |
Genene Jones (USA) | 1982 | F | Unusually high number of infant deaths. | Puncture marks in bottle of paralytic drug | None | Only suspect had access to the succinylcholine | Puncture marks in bottle | None. | None. | Convicted | None. |
Marianne Nölle (Germany) | 1984 | F | Unusually high number of elderly deaths. Initially attributed to natural causes | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care. | None | Lethal dose found in patient’s system administered while suspect on duty. Reports from patients. | None. | None. | None. | Convicted | None. |
Beverley Allitt (UK) |
1991 | F | Unusually high number of child deaths. Post-mortem forensics consistent with non-accidental poisoning. | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care. |
None. | Shift pattern analysis. Suspect signed out medications that were found in lethal doses in the victims. |
Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients. |
None. | Some evidence of attention-seeking behaviour and prior mental illness. | Convicted. | None. |
Kristen Gilbert (US) | 1996 | F | Disproportionate number of deaths of low risk patients. | Other nurses reported concerns about high levels of cardiac deaths. | None. | Motivation, access to epinephrine, the medical evidence of victim’s symptoms, peripheral behaviour. | Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. | Reconciliation with/retaliation against ex-husband. | History of psychiatric illness, violence, suicide attempts, behaviour on suspicion (called in a hoax bomb threat, left hospital). | Convicted. | None. |
Jane Bolding (USA) |
1998 | F | Unusually high number of adult deaths. | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. | None. An alleged confession obtained through coercive methods, was later retracted, and excluded from the trial. | Shift pattern analysis. | Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. | None. | None. | Convicted. | Acquitted on retrial due to lack of evidence. |
Colin Norris (UK) |
2002 | M | Unusually high number of adult deaths. | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. | None. | Shift pattern analysis. Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients. |
Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Missing insulin from hospital fridge accessed by Norris immediately before death. | Inspired by Jesse McTavish? | Theft, behavioural problems. | Convicted. | Active campaign. |
Ben Geen (UK) |
2003 | M | Unusually high number of adult deaths. | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. | None. | Shift pattern analysis. A syringe containing insulin was found hidden in suspect’s locker. |
Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. | None. | None. | Convicted. | Active campaign. |
Lucia de Berk (Netherlands) |
2010 | F | Unusually high number of deaths (from infants to elderly). | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care. |
None. | Shift pattern analysis. Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients. |
Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. | None. | None. | Convicted. | Acquitted on retrial. Use of statistics heavily criticised. |
Victorino Chua (UK)[1] | 2011 | M | Experienced nurse noticed a sudden and inexplicable drop in patients’ blood sugar levels. | Saline bags clearly sabotaged. Patient dosages amended by Chua. Aggressive behaviour in one case. | None. | Shift pattern analysis. | Saline bags clearly sabotaged. | None. | None. | Convicted. | None. |
Rebecca Leighton (UK)[2] | 2011 | F | Experienced nurse noticed a sudden and inexplicable drop in patients’ blood sugar levels. | Tampering with saline solution. | None. | Leighton had access, was present at the scene and was found in possession of prescription drugs. | Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. | None. | Theft (of prescription drugs — for her own use!) | Charges dropped due to insufficient evidence. | N/A |
Daniela Poggiali (Italy) |
2014 | F | Unusually high number of adult deaths. | Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. | None. | Shift pattern analysis. Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients. |
Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. | None. | None. | Convicted. | Acquitted on retrial. Use of statistics heavily criticised. |
Lucy Letby (UK) |
2015-6 | F | Unusually high number of infant deaths. Multiple apparent causes. Initially attributed to natural causes |
Suspect was present during a disproportionate number of incidents. A pattern of sudden deterioration when suspect took over their care. |
None. Witnesses saw suspect “behaving suspiciously” around patients. |
Shift pattern analysis. | Post-mortem forensics consistent with poisoning. Expert opinion that deaths were “not natural”. | None. | None. | Convicted. | Active campaign. |