Genene Anne Jones, a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) born in 1950, began her work at Bexar County Hospital, where she was accused of causing the deaths of numerous infants. She later worked at a pediatric clinic in Kerrville, Texas, where suspicions about her conduct grew after puncture marks were discovered in a bottle of succinylcholine, a paralytic. Jones was convicted in 1985 of the murder of 15-month-old Chelsea McClellan, as well as several accusations of endangering other children. Her total kills will never be known for sure, but it has been speculated that Jones may have murdered almost 50 helpless infants dating back to the beginning of her nursing career in 1977. She was sentenced to 99 years in jail plus 60 years for hurting another kid. In 2020, she pled guilty to the murder of Joshua Sawyer and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole until the age of 87. The case highlighted concerns about patient safety measures in healthcare and inspired fictional characters with evil intents.
They're out there. All you have to do is find them.
Genene Jones. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Austin, TX. January 16, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.
Genene Anne Jones
Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Nurse - Jones seemed to thrill in putting the small children in mortal peril and thrusting herself into the role of hero when the children pulled through
Number of victims: 11 +
Date of murder: 1977 - 1982
Date of arrest: November 21, 1982
Date of birth: July 13, 1950
Victim profile: Infants and children
Method of murder: Poisoning (digoxin, heparin and succinylcholine)
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Status: Sentenced to 99 years in prison on February 15, 1984. Sentenced to a concurrent term of 60 years in prison on October 24, 1984
Early Life and Background
Genene Anne Jones was born on July 13, 1950, and was adopted by a nightclub owner and his wife. Before pursuing a career in nursing, she worked as a beautician. In the late 1970s, she attended nursing school and became a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). Her personal life included two marriages; her first marriage lasted from 1968 to 1974, during which she had one child. After reconciling with her first husband, they had another child in 1977. Just prior to her indictment for murder, she married a much younger nursing assistant, who soon filed for divorce.
Career as a Nurse
Jones began her nursing career at Bexar County Hospital (now University Hospital of San Antonio) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). During her tenure there, an unusually high number of children died under her care. This alarming trend prompted hospital officials to request that all LVNs resign and replace them with registered nurses without conducting any formal investigation into the deaths.
After leaving Bexar County Hospital, Jones took a position at a pediatric clinic in Kerrville, Texas. It was here that suspicions about her actions intensified when a doctor discovered puncture marks in a bottle of succinylcholine—a powerful paralytic agent—indicating potential foul play. The drug is known for causing respiratory paralysis and can lead to cardiac arrest if not monitored closely.
Criminal Charges and Convictions
In 1985, Genene Jones was convicted for the murder of 15-month-old Chelsea McClellan using succinylcholine. She faced multiple charges related to harming other children during her time at the clinic. The prosecution presented evidence that indicated she intentionally injected these children with harmful substances like heparin and succinylcholine.
Initially sentenced to 99 years in prison for murder and an additional concurrent sentence of 60 years for injuring another child, Jones’s legal troubles did not end there. Due to Texas laws aimed at reducing prison overcrowding, she was scheduled for mandatory release in 2018 after serving only part of her sentence. To prevent this early release, new charges were filed against her in May 2017 concerning the murder of another infant.
On January 16, 2020, Jones pleaded guilty to the murder charge involving Joshua Sawyer from December 1981 as part of a plea bargain that resulted in four other charges being dropped. She received a life sentence without parole eligibility until approximately age 87 around the year 2037.
Impact on Healthcare and Culture
The case of Genene Jones raised significant concerns regarding patient safety protocols within healthcare settings. It highlighted systemic failures that allowed such tragedies to occur without adequate oversight or accountability from hospital administrations.
In popular culture, Genene Jones has been referenced as an inspiration for fictional characters depicting nurses with malevolent intentions. Stephen King noted that his character Annie Wilkes from “Misery” drew some inspiration from Jones’s story.
The legacy of Genene Anne Jones serves as both a cautionary tale about vigilance within medical environments and an example of how unchecked authority can lead to devastating consequences for vulnerable populations such as infants and children.
VIDEO: Genene Jones : The Death Nurse | https://youtu.be/fRdLxT27diw
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