Kristen Gilbert

File:Kristen Gilbert 1996 arrest.jpg

Kristen Gilbert 1996 arrest

Kristen Gilbert
Born	Kristen Heather Strickland Birth date -1st March 1966 Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Nurse
Criminal status	Incarcerated
Spouse(s)	Glenn Gilbert (divorced)
Children	2
Conviction(s)	Murder, Attempted murder
Criminal penalty	Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
Details
Victims	4 (convicted)
Span of crimes	1995–1996
Country	United States
State(s)	Massachusetts
Date apprehended	1998

Kristen Heather Gilbert (née Strickland; born November 13, 1967) is an American serial killer and former nurse who was convicted of murdering four patients and attempting to murder two others by injecting them with epinephrine at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts. Her case is notable for the use of epinephrine as a murder weapon, which induced cardiac arrest in her victims.

Early Life

Kristen Gilbert was born Kristen Heather Strickland in Fall River, Massachusetts. She grew up in a middle-class family and showed an early interest in the medical field. She attended Bridgewater State University and later transferred to Greenfield Community College, where she earned her nursing degree.

Career

Gilbert began her career as a nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts. She was known for her competence and was well-liked by her colleagues. However, suspicions arose when an unusual number of patients began dying of cardiac arrest during her shifts.

Crimes

Between 1995 and 1996, Gilbert murdered four patients and attempted to murder two others by injecting them with epinephrine, a drug that can cause cardiac arrest when administered in large doses. Her actions led to a series of cardiac arrests, which she would then respond to, often being the first on the scene. This behavior earned her the nickname "Angel of Death."

Investigation and Arrest

Suspicion grew among her colleagues, and an internal investigation was launched. In 1996, Gilbert resigned from her position. The investigation revealed that she had been present during a disproportionate number of cardiac arrests. She was arrested in 1998 and charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.

Trial and Conviction

Gilbert's trial began in November 2000. The prosecution presented evidence that she had injected patients with epinephrine to induce cardiac arrest. In March 2001, she was convicted of four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. She was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Incarceration

Kristen Gilbert is currently serving her sentence at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.

Related Pages

• Serial killer
• Nurse
• Epinephrine
• Cardiac arrest
• Veterans Affairs Medical Center