Kristen Gilbert

File:Kristen Gilbert 1996 arrest.jpg

Kristen Gilbert (born Kristen Heather Strickland on November 13, 1967) is a former nurse and convicted serial killer. She was employed at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she was found guilty of murdering four patients by administering fatal doses of epinephrine, a heart stimulant, causing them to have cardiac arrest.

Early Life

Kristen Gilbert was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. She grew up in a middle-class family and was known to be intelligent and manipulative from a young age. She attended Bridgewater State University and later transferred to Greenfield Community College, where she earned her nursing degree.

Career

Gilbert began working at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton in 1989. She was well-regarded by her colleagues and patients initially, but suspicions arose due to the unusually high number of cardiac arrests during her shifts.

Crimes

Between 1995 and 1996, Gilbert was responsible for the deaths of four patients: Stanley Jagodowski, Henry Hudon, Kenneth Cutting, and Edward Skwira. She injected them with epinephrine, which caused their hearts to race uncontrollably, leading to cardiac arrest. Her motive was believed to be a desire to impress her then-boyfriend, James Perrault, a hospital security guard, by creating emergency situations where he would be called to respond.

Investigation and Trial

The investigation into Gilbert's activities began in 1996 after several nurses reported their suspicions. An internal investigation by the VAMC and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led to her arrest in 1998. During her trial, which began in November 2000, the prosecution presented evidence of her involvement in the deaths of the four patients and the attempted murder of three others. She was found guilty on March 14, 2001, and was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus 20 years.

Aftermath

Gilbert's case led to significant changes in the policies and procedures at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center to prevent similar incidents in the future. Her story has been the subject of several books and television documentaries.

See Also

• List of serial killers in the United States
• Medical murder
• Nursing ethics

External Links

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