Joseph Michael Swango: The Doctor of Death
Early Life and Education
Joseph Michael Swango was born on October 21, 1954, in Tacoma, Washington. Raised in Quincy, Illinois, he excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian from Quincy Catholic Boys High School in 1972. Swango pursued higher education at Quincy College, earning a degree in chemistry and biology, and later attended Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU). During his time at SIU, concerns arose regarding his clinical performance and unusual fascination with dying patients. Despite these red flags, he graduated in 1983.
Medical Career and Initial Suspicions
Swango began a surgical internship at Ohio State University Medical Center in 1983. Nurses observed a troubling pattern: patients under his care suffered unexplained medical emergencies, with several fatalities. Notably, 19-year-old Cynthia Ann McGee, recovering from an automobile accident, died unexpectedly in 1984. Although suspicions were raised, a cursory investigation cleared Swango, and he completed his internship without securing a residency.
Poisoning Colleagues in Illinois
In 1984, Swango returned to Quincy, Illinois, working as an emergency medical technician. His colleagues experienced sudden, severe illnesses after consuming food or beverages he provided. Investigations led to his arrest in October 1984, when arsenic and other poisons were found in his possession. On August 23, 1985, Swango was convicted of aggravated battery for poisoning his co-workers and sentenced to five years in prison.
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