Guest Kristen Gilbert, known as 'The Angel of Death,' worked as a nurse at a VA Medical Center where suspicious deaths occurred on her shifts. The podcast delves into Gilbert's troubling behavior, deceptive actions, bomb threats, toxicology reports, and her trial and conviction for multiple murders.
Kristen Gilbert exhibited a pattern of pathological lying and manipulation in personal relationships, showcasing a darker side to her psyche.
Kristen Gilbert's enigmatic reputation as the 'Angel of Death' stemmed from a significantly higher patient mortality rate under her care, leading to suspicions and investigations.
Deep dives
Kristen Gilbert's Pathological Lying and Violent Tendencies
From a young age, Kristen Gilbert exhibited a pattern of pathological lying, fabricating stories about her family and relationships. She maintained a false claim of being related to infamous murderer Lizzy Borden, showcasing a darker side to her psyche. Kristen's relationships were marked by vindictiveness and manipulation, especially during breakups, displaying violent behavior towards ex-boyfriends. Despite excelling academically and professionally, warning signs of her darker tendencies emerged in closed circles.
Suspicious Patient Deaths at Veterans Affairs Medical Center
During Kristen Gilbert's tenure at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, multiple patients died unexpectedly under her care. Staff noticed a concerning trend where Kristen was the primary nurse for a majority of patient deaths on her shift. Her patient mortality rate was significantly higher compared to other nurses, raising suspicions among colleagues. Dubbed the 'Angel of Death,' Kristen's enigmatic reputation thrived amidst the unusual deaths on her watch.
Kristen Gilbert's Attempted Murder of Her Husband
In a disturbing turn of events, Kristen Gilbert allegedly poisoned her husband, Glenn Gilbert, with medications stolen from the hospital. Glenn experienced severe health issues, including low potassium levels and irregular heartbeats, indicative of foul play. Kristen's sudden interest in cooking and use of potentially lethal drugs hinted at a calculated attempt to harm Glenn, culminating in a failed attempt to induce cardiac arrest.
The Arrest and Conviction of Kristen Gilbert
Kristen Gilbert's actions escalated when she resorted to bomb threats at the medical center to evade scrutiny, leading to her arrest. Investigations uncovered her connection to patient deaths through toxicology reports, revealing lethal doses of epinephrine and ketamine in victims like Ed Squeera. Despite pleading not guilty, Kristen was found guilty on multiple murder charges. She received a life sentence without parole, serving time at the Carswell Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
In 1989, Kristen Gilbert started her nursing career at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts. She impressed medical staff for her quick and skilled reactions to emergencies on her ward and in the ICU. But over the following seven years, so much death occurred during her shifts that she gained the moniker “The Angel of Death.” Was it a coincidence, or was Kristen Gilbert killing her patients?