Donald Harvey

Donald Harvey

Donald Harvey (April 15, 1952 – March 30, 2017) was an American serial killer who claimed to have murdered 87 people, though the official number of victims confirmed by authorities stands at 37. Harvey's crimes spanned from 1970 to 1987, during which he worked as a nurse's aide at hospitals in Kentucky and Ohio. He was dubbed the "Angel of Death" by the media due to his role in the healthcare industry and his method of killing, which often involved poisoning his victims to "ease their pain," as he claimed.

Early Life

Donald Harvey was born in Butler County, Ohio, and had a troubled childhood marked by abuse. Little is known about his early life, but Harvey dropped out of high school and began working in healthcare facilities, where he had access to vulnerable patients.

Crimes

Harvey's killing spree began in 1970 and continued until his arrest in 1987. He worked in various healthcare settings, including Marymount Hospital in London, Kentucky, and the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Hospital, where he had access to patients. Harvey's methods of murder included administering overdoses of medications, poisoning with arsenic and cyanide, suffocation, and tampering with medical equipment. He justified his actions by claiming he was relieving patients of their suffering.

Arrest and Conviction

Donald Harvey was arrested in 1987 after a medical examiner became suspicious of the high death rate in the hospital where Harvey worked. During the investigation, Harvey confessed to killing 37 people, but he later claimed the number was closer to 87. In 1987, he was convicted of multiple counts of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Death

Donald Harvey died on March 30, 2017, after being beaten by a fellow inmate at the Toledo Correctional Institution in Ohio. His death ended the life of one of America's most prolific serial killers, whose actions had sparked widespread fear and led to significant changes in hospital procedures and patient care practices.

Legacy

The case of Donald Harvey brought attention to the vulnerabilities in the healthcare system and the need for stricter background checks and monitoring of healthcare workers. His crimes led to increased security measures in hospitals and more rigorous scrutiny of staff to prevent similar incidents.