In the late 1980s, an elderly white male named James Crist Sr., 88, and his wife, Elizabeth 'Betty' Crist, were living in Atlanta, Georgia, and in need of care. A woman named Patricia Vann Taylor Allanson, using the alias Pat Taylor, was hired as a caregiver, along with her daughter, Debbie, who was a registered nurse. Unbeknownst to the Crist family, Patricia had a criminal past and was not a licensed nurse.
Shortly after the two women began their employment with the Crists, both James
and his wife began to suffer from a series of mysterious illnesses. The family grew suspicious of the caregivers' methods and became increasingly concerned for the well-being of the elderly couple. Their fears were tragically realized when James Crist Sr. passed away on December 28, 1988. The circumstances surrounding his death amplified the family's doubts about the care he had been receiving.
Following James's death, an investigation was launched into the actions of Patricia and her daughter. The inquiry uncovered that Patricia had been administering unauthorized medications to both James and Elizabeth, which had led to their declining health. On April 17, 1991, a grand jury in Fulton County indicted both Patricia and Debbie on multiple charges, including aggravated assault with intent to murder, theft, and impersonating a registered nurse.
In a turn of events, on June 12, 1991, Patricia Vann Taylor Allanson accepted a plea agreement. She pleaded guilty to the charges against her and was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison. As a condition of the plea bargain, she was not formally charged with the murder of James Crist Sr. Patricia was released from prison in 1999.
