2 More Murder Charges for Nurse Who May Have Killed 60 Kids

Former nurse now charged in 4 deaths
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 29, 2017 7:39 PM CDT
2 More Murder Charges for Nurse Who May Have Killed 60 Kids
In this Feb. 16, 1984, file photo, nurse Genene Jones, in custody of Kerr County Deputy Clay Barton, left, and Williamson County Deputy Loretta Pickett, right, arrives at Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown, Texas.   (Ted Powers)

A former nurse who prosecutors believe could be responsible in the deaths of up to 60 Texas children has been indicted on two new murder charges, the AP reports. The Bexar County district attorney's office said in a statement that Genene Jones, 66, was indicted Thursday in the deaths of 8-month-old Ricky Nelson in 1981 and 4-month-old Patrick Zavala a year later. She now faces four new murder charges, all filed in about the last month. Last week, she was indicted on a murder count in the 1981 death of Rosemary Vega, and she was indicted on a murder count last month in the 1981 death of 11-month-old Joshua Sawyer. During Jones' time working at a San Antonio hospital and a clinic in Kerrville, northwest of San Antonio, children died of unexplained seizures and other complications.

Jones is serving concurrent 99-year and 60-year sentences in state prison for the 1982 killing of another toddler and the sickening of a 4-week-old boy who survived. She was scheduled for release in March under a mandatory release law in place when she was convicted, but District Attorney Nico LaHood has previously said he's trying to ensure she never leaves prison because she's linked to the deaths of many more children who died in the early 1980s either during her shifts or shortly after. Prosecutors at Jones' 1984 murder trial said the nurse lethally injected children at the Kerrville clinic to demonstrate the need for a pediatric intensive care unit at a nearby hospital. Other prosecutors theorized that Jones' tactic was to take swift medical action and save some of her victims, making herself appear to be a sort of miracle worker. (More child murder stories.)

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