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Science Vs
How a Nuclear Lab Helped Catch a Serial Killer
Nov 28, 2024
Ashley Flowers, the host of the popular Crime Junkie podcast, dives deep into a haunting true crime tale. She discusses a series of suspicious patient deaths linked to respiratory therapist Efren Saldivar at a California hospital in the 1990s. With expert insights from forensic scientists and detectives, they explore how advanced testing at a nuclear lab cracked the case wide open. Gripping confessions, ethical dilemmas in healthcare, and the cutting-edge science that unraveled this chilling mystery come to life, showcasing the intersection of medicine and crime.
52:13
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Quick takeaways
- The investigation into the suspicious patient deaths revealed a disturbing pattern, leading to the confession of Efren Saldivar, a respiratory therapist who admitted to intentionally causing fatalities.
- Collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory introduced innovative forensic techniques that successfully identified toxic drugs in the victims' bodies, revolutionizing the evidence-gathering process.
Deep dives
A Medical Mystery Unfolds
In late December 1996, a series of unexpected deaths at Glendale Adventist Medical Center raised alarms about the possible foul play involving a healthcare worker. Initially viewed as unfortunate outcomes due to chronic illnesses, the sudden decline and passing of patients like Salbi Esatrian and Eleonora Schlegel sparked rumors of intentional killings through IV injections. Witnesses began to report sightings of unusual behavior in one respiratory therapist, Efren Saldivar, who supposedly had a reputation among staff for causing patients to die more swiftly than others. Despite the alarming gossip, hospital investigations failed to find definitive evidence pointing to a killer among the staff until further reports prompted police involvement months later.
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Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode