In 1988, former Jersey City Municipal Court Judge John W. Yengo, a 72-year-old male, sought treatment at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, New Jersey, for what appeared to be a severe sunburn. This condition was later understood to be an allergic reaction to a medication he was taking for his heart. His admission to the hospital for a seemingly manageable condition would ultimately prove fatal, though not due to the ailment for which he was being treated.
During his stay, a nurse by the name of Charles Cullen was on duty. Cullen, who would later be identified as a prolific serial killer, entered Judge Yengo's room under the cover of his professional role. Instead of providing care, Cullen administered a lethal dose of a drug, an act that would become his signature method of murder over the subsequent years.
Judge Yengo's unsuspecting death marked the beginning of Cullen's long and tragic killing spree across various medical facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For years, his death was not viewed as a homicide, and the truth only came to light as the extent of Cullen's crimes was eventually uncovered. Charles Cullen was ultimately arrested and confessed to the murder of Judge Yengo, along with numerous other patients under his care, bringing a horrifying clarity to the judge's unexpected passing.
