Kimberly Clark Saenz

Mugshot of Kimberly Clark Saenz

Kimberly Clark Saenz (born 1973) is an American former licensed vocational nurse (LVN) who was convicted of murder and aggravated assault in the deaths and injuries of patients in a dialysis clinic in Lufkin, Texas. Her case attracted significant media attention due to the nature of the crimes and her role as a healthcare professional.

Background

Kimberly Clark Saenz was employed at a DaVita Dialysis Center in Lufkin, Texas. In 2008, patients at the clinic began experiencing unusual medical emergencies, including cardiac arrests, during their dialysis treatments. An investigation was launched after a pattern of these incidents pointed towards possible foul play.

Crimes

The investigation revealed that Saenz had injected bleach into the dialysis lines of at least ten patients, leading to five deaths and causing harm to five others. The use of bleach, a common cleaning agent in medical settings but highly toxic to humans if ingested or introduced into the bloodstream, was a particularly egregious method of harming patients.

Trial and Conviction

In 2012, Kimberly Clark Saenz was brought to trial. She faced multiple charges, including capital murder and aggravated assault. The prosecution argued that Saenz deliberately injected bleach into the dialysis lines, knowing it would cause harm or death to the patients. Saenz's defense argued that the incidents were accidents or the result of improper procedures at the clinic.

After a lengthy trial, Saenz was found guilty of one count of capital murder (for the deaths of multiple patients) and two counts of aggravated assault. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder charge, and received concurrent 20-year sentences for each aggravated assault charge.

Aftermath

The case of Kimberly Clark Saenz raised serious concerns about patient safety and the oversight of healthcare professionals in dialysis centers. It led to increased scrutiny of dialysis clinics and the implementation of stricter protocols for the handling and administration of treatment.

See Also

• Medical malpractice
• Serial killers
• Healthcare in the United States