Bobbie Terrell

Serial Killer

Bobbie Sue Terrell: The Nurse Who Murdered Elderly Patients

Background and Nursing Career

Bobbie Sue Terrell, also known by her former married name Bobbie Sue Dudley, was an American nurse who murdered elderly patients under her care at a Florida nursing home. Born Bobbie Sue Robinson on October 16, 1952, in Woodlawn, Illinois, she grew up in a large family in which several of her brothers suffered from muscular dystrophy. Illness, medical treatment, and caregiving were therefore prominent parts of her childhood. Terrell trained as a registered nurse and completed her nursing education in Illinois during the 1970s. She married Danny Dudley in 1976, and the couple adopted a son after learning that she could not have biological children. The marriage later ended, and Terrell experienced serious psychological problems that resulted in periods of psychiatric treatment. Despite her history, she continued finding work in medical facilities where she was responsible for vulnerable patients. After moving to Florida, Terrell obtained a position at the North Horizon Health Center, a small nursing home in St. Petersburg. She worked as a night-shift nurse and supervisor, giving her extensive access to patients, medications, syringes, and medical records. Her position also allowed her to be alone with residents during hours when staffing and supervision were limited.

The Deaths at North Horizon

Terrell began working at North Horizon in October 1984. Within weeks, the facility experienced an extraordinary concentration of patient deaths. Twelve residents reportedly died during a period of approximately two weeks in November 1984. The nursing home contained only about 50 beds, making the sudden number of deaths deeply alarming. Many of the residents were elderly and had existing medical problems, so individual deaths initially appeared explainable. However, the frequency and timing of the fatalities soon created fear among employees. Several patients deteriorated without a clear medical reason, and many of the emergencies occurred during Terrell's overnight shifts. Investigators eventually determined that Terrell had used two principal methods. Some patients were injected with dangerous amounts of insulin, causing their blood-sugar levels to fall catastrophically. Hypoglycemia could produce confusion, seizures, unconsciousness, organ failure, and death while initially resembling a naturally occurring medical crisis. Other patients were strangled, leaving injuries that were more difficult to recognize immediately on elderly bodies. Terrell sometimes reacted dramatically after a patient died. Coworkers recalled her crying, becoming hysterical, and expressing disbelief over the deaths. These displays initially made her appear emotionally affected by the losses. Investigators later viewed her conduct as part of a pattern in which she created emergencies and then placed herself at the center of the resulting attention. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Aggie Marsh Age: (97), Date of Death: 1984-11-14

Survivors:

Anna Larson Age: (94), Date of Attack: 1984-11-16

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