RETA PHYLLIS MAYS | Nursing Assistant Who Killed Seven Elderly Male Veterans With Insulin Injections While Working at a VA Hospital | Sentenced to 7 Life Terms + 20 Years | ALS

Reta Mays. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Birmingham, AL. March 4, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

The Silent Requiem: The Crimes of Reta Phyllis Mays

Reta Phyllis Mays was born on June 16, 1975, in Reynoldsville, West Virginia. As of March 2025, she is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Aliceville, in Alabama, serving seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Her criminal record includes seven counts of second-degree murder and one count of assault with intent to commit murder, all perpetrated during her tenure at the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Mays served in the West Virginia National Guard from November 2000 to April 2001 and again from February 2003 to May 2004, during which she was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait with the 1092nd Engineer Battalion. Following her military service, she worked as a corrections officer at the North Central Regional Jail in Greenwood, West Virginia, from 2005 to 2012. In 2013, Mays was implicated in a lawsuit alleging excessive force against an inmate, though the case was dismissed on summary judgment. She later joined the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Medical Center as a nursing assistant in 2015, a position that did not require certification or licensure.​

Between July 2017 and June 2018, Mays administered unauthorized insulin injections to non-diabetic patients during her overnight shifts on Ward 3A of the medical center. This led to severe hypoglycemia, resulting in the deaths of seven veterans:​

• Archie Edgell, 84, a Korean War Army veteran, died in March 2017 after experiencing unexplained hypoglycemia.​

• Robert Edge Sr., 82, a Navy veteran of the Korean War, succumbed in July 2017 under similar circumstances.​

• Robert Kozul, 89, an Army veteran of the Korean War, passed away in January 2018 following a sudden drop in blood sugar levels.​

• George Shaw Sr., 81, an Air Force veteran, died in March 2018 after an acute hypoglycemic episode.

• William Holloway, 96, a World War II Army veteran, experienced a fatal hypoglycemic event in April 2018.

• Felix McDermott, 82, a Vietnam War Army veteran, died in April 2018 due to unexplained hypoglycemia.

• Raymond Golden, 88, a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, succumbed in June 2018 after a sudden drop in blood sugar levels.​

Additionally, Mays attempted to murder Russell R. Posey Sr., 92, a World War II Navy veteran, who suffered a hypoglycemic episode in June 2018 and died two weeks later. However, the medical examiner could not conclusively attribute his death to insulin administration, leading to a charge of assault with intent to commit murder.​

The hospital initiated an internal investigation in June 2018 after noticing a pattern of unexplained hypoglycemic events among non-diabetic patients. The investigation was subsequently taken over by the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mays was identified as a person of interest due to her presence during all the incidents and her unauthorized access to insulin. Further scrutiny revealed that she had conducted internet searches on female serial killers and had viewed related television programs.

On July 14, 2020, Mays was arrested and charged with seven counts of second-degree murder and one count of assault with intent to commit murder. She pleaded guilty to all charges, admitting to administering insulin to patients with the intent to cause their deaths. During her sentencing on May 11, 2021, U.S. District Judge Thomas Kleeh sentenced her to seven consecutive life terms plus 20 years, emphasizing the gravity of her offenses and the breach of trust involved. Mays was also ordered to pay $172,624.96 in restitution to the victims' families and associated entities.​

The impact of Mays' actions was profound, affecting not only the victims and their families but also the broader community and healthcare system. The families endured immense grief and a deep sense of betrayal, as their loved ones had sought care in a facility dedicated to serving veterans. The case attracted significant media attention, leading to public outrage and prompting the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement stricter oversight and protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.​

As of March 2025, Mays remains incarcerated at FCI Aliceville in Alabama. There is no public record of her participation in rehabilitation programs, and given the severity of her crimes and the consecutive life sentences, she poses no future threat to society.​

The case of Reta Mays underscores the critical importance of rigorous hiring practices, continuous employee monitoring, and the establishment of a culture that encourages reporting suspicious activities within healthcare settings. It also highlights the necessity for healthcare institutions to maintain strict control over medications and to ensure that all staff members adhere to established protocols.​

Given the notoriety of Mays' crimes, any autographed items associated with her could be considered rare collectibles. However, ethical considerations regarding the commercialization of memorabilia linked to criminal activities should be carefully evaluated.

• VIDEO: Serial Killer CAUGHT at VA Hospital by FBI Interrogators | Serial Killers EXPOSED | https://youtu.be/QUCSWFklNPQ

• VIDEO: FBI Interrogators Called In To Catch Serial Killer at the VA Hospital | Interrogation Raw | A&E | https://youtu.be/ecL-h6hipV

Archiving Protocol:

• Handled with White Gloves ab initio

• Photo Pages/Sheet Protectors: Heavyweight Clear Sheet Protectors, Acid Free & Archival Safe, 8.5 × 11, Top Load

• White Backing Board – Acid Free

Shipping/Packaging: Rigid Mailer 9.5 × 12.5. White, self-seal, stay-flat, Kraft cardboard, no bend. Each rigid mailer is made of heavy cardboard, which has strong resistance to bending and tearing. Thicker than the USPS mailers. Shipping cost never more than it absolutely has to be to get it from me to you.