Reason First: The Death Nurse- Genene Jones

Killing babies who are absolutely defenseless and have no clue about the world is particularly heinous. What Genene Jones of San Antonio, Texas did from 1981 to 1982 was to spike the amount of infant deaths in the hospital she worked. As a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), she was supposed to take care of these young children in desperate need. Instead, she subverted that call to action and pumped the infants full of lethal doses of drugs, causing them to have heart attacks, or stop breathing.

While only 2 deaths have been confirmed to be her handiwork, Jones is actually suspected of killing over 60 children. She was sentenced to 99 years in prison for her evil acts. Though she could have seen release in 2018, she remains locked up and will be eligible for parole again in 2038.

The origins of Jones’ murderous intentions may lie in the duo of mental disorders she suffers from today. First, she has histrionic personality disorder. This means she has to draw attention to herself wherever she goes, and crave that attention at all times. Like the lead actress in her own movie, she played the part of a caring activist, just trying to push the town of Kerrville, Texas to build a pediatric center.

In addition to thirsting for the spotlight, Jones would also speak in an openly and unseemly manner about her love life, making those around her uncomfortable. Her drastic, sometimes violent mood swings also made people ill at ease.

She dressed in revealing clothing to attract more attention to herself. She even used the infant deaths she caused as another opportunity to hog the limelight, crying profusely in front of as many people as possible. The way she broke down after each loss of life alone made her seem like a person who could crack at any time. Her expressive way of dealing with the loss of life exhibited a personality that could crack at any time.

In her romantic life, she struggled to find a mate because of her domineering disposition. The consequence of feeling superior to her partners, and making sure they knew it, led to profound loneliness.

Jones likely either suffered from Munchausen’s Syndrome and/or Munchausen Syndrome by proxy. According to the site The Criminal Code, this meant that she could have been sickened as a child or made a loved one ill, or lied and pretended that she was physically ill, in order to attract the constant attention and sympathy of others, or to garner care, praise, emotional support, social status and respect from others for her seemingly noble “caretaking” efforts. Jones often lied to parents about the severity of their babies’ illnesses, or she made them sicker intentionally to appear to be a great nurse. She caused illnesses to look even worse in her child patients to make it seem as if she were a great nurse. All the while, she was killing the kids.

As a consequence of her psychological disorders, Genene Jones became a woman hellbent on sending infants to their graves in service to her own emotional needs. As of this writing, Jones is still breathing, and still demonstrating the behaviors of a seriously mentally ill woman.

In a plea agreement over two years ago, she asked, among other things for her Bible. Was she looking for more attention, or redemption from some mystical source? Given her disorders, it’s hard to tell. She is still alive, but long ago destroyed any chance she had of finding happiness. As a rational, selfish individual she could have been an excellent nurse. With her double diagnosis, Jones should have sought help. Rather than taking precious lives, she should have focused on her own mental health. Now, she is more likely than not going to rot in a prison cell. She can read the Bible all she wants but will that bring back those babies she sent to the grave? Her punishment seems fitting. It serves her right.