Ep 17. Notorious - Kristen Gilbert

In this episode of Snapped, we dive into the story of Kristen Gilbert, a nurse who became one of the most notorious serial killers in Massachusetts history. Known as the "Angel of Death," Gilbert was convicted of killing four patients and attempting to kill three others at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts.

The episode begins by introducing us to Gilbert's life before she became a nurse. She grew up in a middle-class family in Massachusetts and was considered a straight-A student in school. However, Gilbert's life took a dark turn when she began experiencing anxiety and depression during her college years. She dropped out and eventually started working as a nurse's aide at a local hospital.

Gilbert eventually went back to school to become a registered nurse and landed a job at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton. It was during her time at the VA that Gilbert's reign of terror began.

In 1995, patients began dying at an alarming rate on the ward where Gilbert worked. There had been no suspicious deaths prior to her arrival and a pattern soon emerged. Each time Gilbert was on duty, patients would die suddenly and unexpectedly. The hospital launched an investigation and found that Gilbert had been injecting patients with epinephrine, a powerful cardiac stimulant that can cause heart attacks.

Gilbert was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. During her trial, evidence was presented showing that Gilbert had a history of lying about her credentials and stealing drugs from previous jobs. The prosecution also argued that Gilbert was motivated by a desire for attention and sympathy from her co-workers.

Despite her adamant claims of innocence and the support of her family and friends, Gilbert was convicted on all counts and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She remains in prison to this day.

In this episode of Snapped, we hear from those who knew Gilbert and those who investigated her crimes. We also get a glimpse into the mind of a serial killer as we learn more about Gilbert's motivations and thought processes. Through interviews with experts in the field of psychology and criminology, we gain a deeper understanding of how someone like Gilbert could become a "Angel of Death."

Overall, this episode of Snapped provides a chilling look at one of the most notorious female serial killers in American history. Through interviews with those who knew her, we get a sense of how Gilbert's seemingly normal life took a dark turn and how her crimes affected those around her.