Genene Ann Jones worked as paediatric nurse in the 1980s, and while doing so took the lives of infants via the use of heparin, digoxin and other drugs. The idea was that she could bring the children round and receive praise and attention from her saving them. The medication given caused the children to suffer heart paralysis, which some never recovered from. Jones worked at the Bexar County Hospital, which is now known as the University Hospital of San Antonio. Following a number of children dying while in her care, Jones was asked to resign from her post. An investigation was never lodged as the facility was worried about reprisals including being sued.

As Jones has resigned from her last post, there was nothing stopping her from gaining employment in another establishment. She started work at a paediatric physician’s clinic in Kerrville, Texas. Her crimes were uncovered when a doctor had noticed a series of puncture marks in a bottle of succinylcholine. It was from this that Jones was charged with poisoning six children, Jones believed she was acting on behalf of her patients by showing there was a requirement for the paediatric intensive-care unit in Kerrville.

Despite the number of victims allegedly being around 46 children, Jones was only ever charged with two. The murder of 15-month-old Chelsea McClellan and the attempted murder of Rolando Jones, a mere 18-months-old. Jones received a 99-year prison sentence in 1985. However, this has been reduced by one third due to Texas sentencing laws. This means she could be released in February 2018.  Authorities are currently trying to secure fresh evidence form her crime spree in the hope that she will be kept locked up indefinitely.

The real horror in this tale is amplified by those knowing of her evil, but choosing to dismiss it purely for the future of the establishment. Her crimes have gone on to be the basis of two movies, 1991’s “Deadly Medicine” and 2002’s “Mass Murder.” She was also the inspiration for Stephen King’s Annie character in “Misery.”