In Forensic Profiling, an Angel of Death is a type of serial killer who murders terminally ill patients for various reasons. These killers are typically in the healthcare profession, and are, in most cases, female.
Reasons
While most of these types of killers do so out of pure thrill, some believe they are doing the victim a service by putting them out of their misery (euthanasia). Others may do so for the purpose of identity theft. They may murder their victims in order to steal Social Security benefits, inheritances, household valuables, etc. Still others may do so out of revenge (being left out of the will for example).
Real-Life Examples
- John Bodkin Adams: Physician; suspected of killing 160 of his patients
- Charles Cullen: Nurse; 35-45 victims
- Amelia Dyer: Nurse; unknown number of victims, possibly dozens
- Jack Kevorkian: Physician; over 130 (willing euthanasia)
- Christine Malèvre: Nurse, 6 known victims
- Marianne Nölle: Nurse, 17 victims
On CSI
On CSI: Crime scene Investigation, Dr. Raymond Langston is revealed to have worked alongside an Angel of Death, Dr. Michael Webb, who killed 37 patients by contaminating their IVs before killing himself the same way.