Mind of a Monster: The Killer Nurse

Episode 2: The Angel of Death

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Dr. Michelle Ward
Featured Guests: William Welch (former Mass. State Attorney), Christine Duquette (victim's family), Dr. Greg Blackman (VA physician), others

Overview

This episode investigates Kristen Gilbert’s early nursing career at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Northampton, Massachusetts, and examines her transformation from a respected nurse and mother into a prolific serial killer – the so-called “Angel of Death.” Through interviews with former colleagues, law enforcement, victim’s families, and hospital staff, Dr. Michelle Ward unpacks Gilbert’s manipulation, her rising death toll, and the systemic failures that allowed her to continue her crimes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Kristen Gilbert’s Tenure at VAMC

• Setting the Scene: August 21, 1995. Korean War veteran Stanley Jagadowski, 66, dies after Gilbert is seen entering his room with a syringe. His cries, “Stop it. Stop. You’re killing me,” (02:14) are heard by staff, and his heart fails soon after.
• Background: Gilbert, married with two children, starts at the VAMC in 1989. Staff describe the hospital as “sleepy,” close-knit, and catering to veterans from multiple wars (World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War).

2. Kristen’s Public Persona versus Private Behavior

• Colleagues’ View: Initially seen as a model employee, well-liked:
  “She was befriended by everybody. Had that veneer of soccer mom, baked cupcakes...someone who began to blend into the fabric of Ward C.” – William Welch (05:30)
• Her Role: Efficient in emergencies, skilled with medications, but more interested in technical tasks than bedside care.
  • Melody Turner (nurse manager): “Kristen was more interested in the task-type responsibilities rather than providing direct bedside care.” (06:55)

3. Sharp Rise in Medical Emergencies and Deaths

• Anomalies Noticed:
  • Spike in “emergency codes” and deaths tracking Gilbert’s shifts.
  • Gilbert alone activated 72 emergency alarms, compared to 70 for all other nurses combined (08:35).
  • Staff nicknamed her “The Angel of Death.”
• Gilbert's Rationalization:
  “She would discount it by simply, you know, saying that she was an excellent nurse...Her save rate was about 50%.” – William Welch (09:42)

4. Early Suspicions and First Investigations

• Doctors’ Concerns: At least one doctor requested Gilbert be kept off his patients after an inexplicably stable patient died under her care (10:23–12:13).
• Hospital Limitations: Underlying illness among veterans made cause of death difficult to challenge.

5. The Death of Stanley Jagadowski

• Last Moments: Nursing assistant witnesses Gilbert fleeing after Jagadowski yells in pain – “Stop! It’s burning me! It hurts!” (12:36–14:16)
• Hierarchy Issues:
  • Assistants hesitant to report suspicions about a respected RN.
  • Assistant: “How do I point the finger at someone where I don’t think anyone’s going to have my back, perhaps.” (14:23)

6. Kristen's Escalating Boldness

• Pattern: Victim Stanley Jagadowski believed to be one of the last in a long line, with Gilbert’s crimes growing brazen over time.
  • “She became emboldened by not being caught...they get cocky and sloppy.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (16:04)

7. Changes in Personal Life & Onset of Affair

• Transformation:
  • Dramatic weight loss, flamboyant appearance, increased partying post-midnight (18:29–21:25).
• Affair with James (Jim) Perrault:
  • “We got to her vehicle and we kissed.” – Jim Perrault (21:49)
  • Flirtations at work, sometimes during patient emergencies.

8. Disturbing Behavior During Codes

• Flirtation & Exhibitionism:
  • Kristen and Jim would flirt openly during codes (22:33–23:43).
  • Witness reports Kristen “straddled” a patient during chest compressions, skirt riding up – “her skirt went up high, and you could see that she had a garter belt on.” (23:43)
• Staff Reaction:
  “Why is she getting so worked up about these codes in terms of the self gratification?” – William Welch (24:01)

9. Home Life Crumbles & Husband’s Suspicious Illness

• Poisoning Suspicion:
  • Husband Glenn reports suspicious-tasting food, unexplained hospitalization for low potassium and glucose.
  • Kristen allegedly tried to inject him under pretense of a blood test:
    “He described this sensation that quickly traveled up his arm and then said it hit his heart like a fist...waking up on the floor of their bathroom.” (25:56–28:27)

10. Victim Spotlight: Henry Houdon

• Background: Henry Houdon, Air Force veteran with psychological issues from a severe traumatic brain injury (34:03–37:22).
• Fear of the Ward:
  “People have been dying around here more lately than ever. I don’t want to stay here. ... Mom, I seriously, I don’t want to die.” – Henry Houdon, via sister Christine Duquette (38:12)

11. The Night of Henry’s Death

• Multiple Cardiac Arrests:
  • Admitted for “overdose”; scheduled to stay overnight.
  • Kristen calls a series of four emergency codes (39:50–44:39).
  • Onlookers disturbed by Kristen’s apparent excitement and flirtation with Jim during each episode.
  • Ultimately, Henry dies after a fourth code; family learns by phone (45:29–47:01).

12. Hospital & Staff Reactions

• Coldness: Kristen curtly ends a condolence call with Henry’s mother:
  “I’ve just come on duty and I have to go.” – Dr. Michelle Ward (48:50)
• Bedside Manner Criticized: Chronic lack of empathy noted in her evaluations (49:00).
• Autopsy: “Cannot find...a clear cause of death.” (50:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stanley Jagadowski’s Last Words:
  “Stop it. Stop. You’re killing me.” (02:14)
• William Welch, on staff culture:
  “It was a very close-knit group...very much a sleepy environment.” (05:02)
• On Kristen’s public image:
  “Had that veneer of soccer mom…baked cupcakes for individuals.” – William Welch (05:30)
• On the spike in emergency codes:
  “Kristin activates the emergency alarm 72 times, compared to 70 for all other nurses combined.” (08:35)
• Henry’s plea:
  “People have been dying around here more lately than ever. I don’t want to stay here…Mom, I seriously, I don’t want to die.” – Henry Houdon (38:12)
• Dr. Greg Blackman recounts being unsettled by Kristen’s remark:
  “We got him back and he’s awake. And [Kristen] looks at me, goes, ‘I wouldn’t be so happy.’” (42:08)
• Christine Duquette’s pain:
  “I know. My brother did not have any kind of heart problem...Just the psych issues. That’s it.” (47:01)
• Michelle Ward, on Kristen’s empathy:
  “Here it says in late 1995...she consistently fails to improve upon what I would argue is the most crucial aspect of nursing, and that’s genuine care.” (49:00)

Timeline of Important Segments (Timestamps)

• Stanley Jagadowski’s death recounted: 02:14–03:54
• Staff bond and Kristen’s image: 05:02–06:00
• Death rate and codes spike: 08:35–09:32
• Doctor removes Kristen from patients: 10:23–12:13
• Eyewitness to Stanley’s death and hospital hierarchy: 12:36–14:23
• Kristen’s emboldened behavior as a serial killer: 15:27–16:04
• Appearance changes and affair begins: 18:29–21:25
• Openly flirtatious and exhibitionist code behavior: 22:33–24:01
• Attempted poisoning of husband Glenn: 25:30–28:27
• Profile and fate of Henry Houdon: 29:14–37:22
• Henry’s warnings and death sequence: 38:12–44:39
• Family’s grief and hospital response: 45:29–48:50
• Staff evaluations and Henry’s autopsy: 49:00–50:00

Tone & Language

The speakers oscillate between analytical detachment (from Dr. Michelle Ward and William Welch), clinical description (from doctors), and raw emotion (from family members like Christine Duquette). The overall tone is tense, investigative, and often somber, especially when discussing victims’ personal stories or systemic oversights that enabled Kristen Gilbert’s crimes.

Final Reflections

This episode exposes the dualities in Kristen Gilbert’s public persona and private atrocities—highlighting how even the most trusted caregivers can be adept manipulators. The episode concludes with the promise to delve into “a whole new level of horror” in Gilbert’s escalating crimes, suggesting new revelations and deeper psychological insights to come.

Next Episode Teaser:

• Focus on Kristen’s unusual motivations and rising suspicion among colleagues.

For those who haven’t listened:
This episode is a chilling, methodical exploration of how Kristen Gilbert deceived her colleagues and murdered veterans under the guise of caring for them—leveraging the trust inherent in her profession, with lives tragically lost as a result.