March 15, 2001
(SPRINGFIELD, Mass.) – A former nurse at a Veteran’s Administration hospital in western Massachusetts could receive a death sentence for killing four patients.
A jury in federal court convicted Kristen Gilbert of three counts of first-degree murder and one of second-degree murder. Wednesday’s verdict followed 12 days of deliberations.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Gilbert injected six patients at the VA hospital in Northhampton with epinephrine or adrenaline. Two of the men survived heart attacks, although they have since died.
If Gilbert had been tried in state court, she would be guaranteed a life sentence since Massachusetts has no death penalty. A sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin Monday.