William George Davis

Serial Killer

William George Davis: The Texas Hospital Serial Killer

William George Davis is an American former registered nurse who was convicted of capital murder for deliberately killing patients while working in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas. Rather than attacking strangers in a setting where violence would immediately attract attention, Davis exploited an environment in which sudden medical emergencies were expected to occur. His victims were recovering from serious medical procedures and had placed their lives in the hands of the hospital staff assigned to care for them. The crimes for which Davis was convicted involved introducing large quantities of air into arterial lines connected to patients who had undergone heart or vascular surgery. The air traveled through their circulatory systems and into their brains, producing catastrophic neurological injuries. Patients who had been awake, responsive, and recovering normally suddenly experienced dramatic medical crises resembling massive strokes. The unusual pattern of brain damage eventually caused physicians and investigators to conclude that the incidents were not ordinary surgical complications.

William George Davis and His Nursing Career

William George Davis was born on February 3, 1984, in Texas. He became a registered nurse and worked in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. His position gave him access to critically ill patients, medications, syringes, arterial lines, and other medical equipment. It also allowed him to move through patient rooms without immediately appearing suspicious. An arterial line is a catheter inserted directly into an artery, commonly through the wrist, so medical personnel can continuously monitor a patient's blood pressure and obtain blood samples. Because the catheter provides direct access to the arterial circulation, deliberately forcing a substantial amount of air through it can cause an arterial air embolism. Air reaching the brain can interrupt blood flow and cause strokes, severe brain damage, unconsciousness, and death.

A Pattern of Unexplained Medical Emergencies

During 2017 and January 2018, patients recovering in the cardiovascular intensive care unit began suffering sudden and extraordinary neurological emergencies. Several had successfully completed surgery and appeared to be progressing normally before unexpectedly becoming critically ill during overnight hours. Doctors initially struggled to explain what had happened. Imaging of several patients revealed unusual amounts or patterns of air inside the brain. Such findings were difficult to reconcile with otherwise successful surgeries and normal postoperative recoveries. The similarities between cases became increasingly alarming. Investigators later presented evidence that Davis repeatedly appeared near patients shortly before their conditions deteriorated. In some instances he was temporarily watching a patient for another nurse; in others, he was not responsible for the patient at all. The prosecution argued that this access allowed Davis to manipulate arterial lines without attracting immediate suspicion. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

John Lafferty , Date of Death: 2017-06-25

Suspected Victims:

Perry Frank Age: (61), Date of Death: 2017-06-22

James Blanks , Date of Death: 2017-01-07

James Sanders , Date of Death: 2017-06

William George Davis - Wikipedia