Efren Saldivar: The "Angel of Death" Respiratory Therapist
Early Life and Career
Efren Saldivar was born on September 30, 1969, in Brownsville, Texas. He pursued a career in healthcare, graduating from the College of Medical and Dental Careers in North Hollywood, California, in 1988. Shortly thereafter, he began working as a respiratory therapist at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Glendale, California, primarily on the night shift when there were fewer staff members present.
Modus Operandi
Saldivar targeted patients who were unconscious and near death, administering lethal doses of paralytic drugs such as Pavulon (pancuronium bromide) and possibly succinylcholine chloride. These drugs cause respiratory and cardiac arrest, leading to death. His careful selection of victims and the use of drugs that rapidly decompose made it challenging to detect a pattern or gather evidence against him.
Investigation and Arrest
In 1998, suspicions arose among Saldivar's colleagues when potent drugs, including Pavulon, were discovered in his locker. An internal investigation led to his termination on March 13, 1998. During police questioning, Saldivar confessed to killing up to 50 patients, a confession he later retracted. To gather concrete evidence, authorities exhumed 20 bodies of patients who had died during his shifts. Toxicological analysis revealed lethal concentrations of Pavulon in six of these cases.
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