Offender Record · OFF-2026-079
Kristen Gilbert (photo from the Radford University biography)
Kristen Heather Gilbert
Also known as Kristen Heather Strickland (birth name), The Angel of Death
Sex
Female
Race
White
Height
5'0"
Born
1967
Custody
Incarcerated
States
MA, TX, NY, CT
Distinguishing featuresHeight 5'0 (60 inches) per news reports
Custody
Incarcerated at Federal Medical Center Carswell · #90371-038
Custody record at the facility
Transferred to FMC Carswell, Fort Worth, Texas in May 2001 after conviction, where she remains incarcerated with no release date.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Kristen Gilbert was convicted on March 14, 2001, in federal court of murdering four patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts, by injecting them with lethal doses of epinephrine. She was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder (Henry Hudon, Kenneth Cutting, Edward Skwira) and one count of second-degree murder (Stanley Jagodowski), and two counts of attempted murder. She was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole plus 20 years and is currently incarcerated at Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Aug 21, 1995, Northampton, Massachusetts
Second-degree murder of Stanley J. Jagodowski
United States Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Docket 98-CR-30044-MAP · 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (federal second-degree murder) · Arrested Jul 11, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole (consecutive)
Army veteran Stanley J. Jagodowski, age 66, died on August 21, 1995, from cardiac arrest. He was the first victim in the series. A nurse reported seeing Gilbert enter his room with a syringe, and he cried out in pain before dying.
SourcesVA nurse guilty of murdering vets; Kristen Gilbert; United States v. Gilbert
Offense date Dec 08, 1995, Northampton, Massachusetts
First-degree murder of Henry R. Hudon
United States Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Docket 98-CR-30044-MAP · 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (federal first-degree murder) · Arrested Jul 11, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole (consecutive)
Air Force veteran Henry R. Hudon, age 35, died on December 8, 1995, from cardiac arrest caused by epinephrine injection at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Gilbert injected the stimulant into his intravenous therapy bags while he was under her care as a nurse.
SourcesVA nurse guilty of murdering vets; Kristen Gilbert; United States v. Gilbert
Offense date Dec 20, 1995, Northampton, Massachusetts
Attempted murder of Francis Marier
United States Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Docket 98-CR-30044-MAP · 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (federal attempted murder) · Arrested Jul 11, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole (concurrent with murder sentences)
Veteran Francis Marier, age 72, experienced cardiac arrest on December 20, 1995, after Gilbert injected epinephrine and insulin into his IV line. He was revived and survived. Prosecutors alleged Gilbert was agitated after being denied early leave that evening.
SourcesBoston Globe Online / Metro; Kristen Gilbert
Offense date Jan 22, 1996, Northampton, Massachusetts
Attempted murder of Thomas Callahan
United States Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Docket 98-CR-30044-MAP · 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (federal attempted murder) · Arrested Jul 11, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole (concurrent with murder sentences)
Army veteran Thomas Callahan, admitted with pneumonia and pulmonary disease, experienced a potentially deadly cardiac arrhythmia on January 22, 1996, after Gilbert poisoned his intravenous line with epinephrine. He was stabilized and survived.
SourcesBoston Globe Online / Metro; Kristen Gilbert
Offense date Feb 02, 1996, Northampton, Massachusetts
First-degree murder of Kenneth G. Cutting
United States Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Docket 98-CR-30044-MAP · 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (federal first-degree murder) · Arrested Jul 11, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole (consecutive)
Army veteran Kenneth G. Cutting, age 41, died on February 2, 1996, from cardiac arrest caused by epinephrine injection. Prosecutors alleged Gilbert requested permission to leave work early that day, which was granted only if a very ill patient died.
SourcesVA nurse guilty of murdering vets; Kristen Gilbert; United States v. Gilbert
Offense date Feb 18, 1996, Northampton, Massachusetts
First-degree murder of Edward S. Skwira
United States Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Docket 98-CR-30044-MAP · 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (federal first-degree murder) · Arrested Jul 11, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole (consecutive)
Army veteran Edward S. Skwira, age 66, died on February 18, 1996, from cardiac arrest caused by epinephrine injection. His body was exhumed in 1997 to test for epinephrine after the investigation began.
SourcesVA nurse guilty of murdering vets; Kristen Gilbert; United States v. Gilbert
Offense date Sep 26, 1996, Northampton, Massachusetts
Making a false bomb threat against a federal institution
United States Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Docket 98-CR-30044-MAP · 18 U.S.C. § 844(e) (federal bomb threat) · Arrested Oct 08, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 15 months in federal prison (Danbury Federal Prison)
On September 26, 1996, while aware of the murder investigation into her activities, Gilbert called in a false bomb threat to the Northampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, likely to divert attention from the investigation. She was arrested on October 8, 1996, for this offense.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Gilbert, Kristen; United States v. Gilbert; Kristen Gilbert
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
4
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
40
Victims suspected
Active years
1995–1996
Victim profile
Elderly, Men, Patients in care
Stated motive
Power or control, Thrill
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Education
associate
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
2
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CT
Danbury, Connecticut
approx. 1998 – Apr 1998 · Danbury Federal Prison, 15 months for bomb threat conviction
MA
Fall River, Massachusetts
approx. 1967 – 1975 · Birthplace and early childhood residence
Groton, Massachusetts
approx. 1980 – 1984 · High school; graduated early with honors
Groton, Massachusetts
approx. 1980 – 1986 · Family moved to Groton in early 1980s
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
approx. 1984 – 1985 · Bridgewater State College, pre-med major
Greenfield, Massachusetts
1987 – 1988 · Greenfield Community College, nursing diploma
Franklin, Massachusetts
approx. 1987 – 1988 · Home health aide with Visiting Nurses Association
Greenfield, Massachusetts
approx. 1987 – 1989 · Married Glenn Gilbert in January 1988; lived with husband
Northampton, Massachusetts
approx. 1989 – 1995 · Lived with husband Glenn Gilbert; moved to apartment complex on Northampton Street in November 1995
Leeds, Massachusetts
Mar 06, 1989 – Feb 1996 · Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northampton VAMC, Ward C, evening shift (3 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
Easthampton, Massachusetts
approx. Nov 1995 – Feb 1996 · Moved to apartment rented by James Perrault
Springfield, Massachusetts
approx. Sep 30, 1996 – Oct 08, 1996 · Baystate Medical Center · Psychiatric hold; court-ordered placement
Northampton, Massachusetts
Oct 08, 1996 – Oct 08, 1996 · Arrested for false bomb threat
Ludlow, Massachusetts
approx. Feb 15, 1999 – Mar 2001 · Hampden County House of Correction (Hamden County), held pending murder trial
Framingham, Massachusetts
approx. Mar 2001 – May 2001 · Federal Prison for Women in Framingham during initial post-conviction period
NY
Setauket, New York
approx. Oct 15, 1996 – 1998 · Court-ordered residence with parents after release from Baystate Medical Center
TX
Fort Worth, Texas
approx. May 2001 – present · Federal Medical Center Carswell, the federal medical facility for women prisoners
Timeline
Nov 13, 1967
Kristen Heather Strickland born in Fall River, Massachusetts.
1984
Gilbert graduated high school a year and a half early with high honors and enrolled in Bridgewater State College as a pre-med student.
1987
Gilbert worked as a home health aide for the Visiting Nurses Association in Franklin County and deliberately scalded a mentally handicapped child.
1988
Gilbert graduated from Greenfield Community College with a nursing diploma.
Mar 06, 1989
Gilbert became employed as a nurse at Leeds Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts, assigned to Ward C.
Aug 21, 1995
Stanley Jagodowski, age 66, died after Gilbert injected epinephrine into his IV line.
Dec 08, 1995
Henry Hudon, age 35, died after Gilbert injected epinephrine into his IV line.
Dec 20, 1995
Francis Marier survived attempted murder when Gilbert injected epinephrine and insulin into his IV line.
Jan 22, 1996
Thomas Callahan survived attempted murder when Gilbert injected epinephrine into his IV line.
Feb 1996
Three nurses, John Wall, Kathy Rix, and Renee Walsh, came forward with concerns about Gilbert, and police investigation began.
Feb 02, 1996
Kenneth Cutting, age 41, died after Gilbert injected epinephrine into his IV line.
Feb 15, 1996
Edward Skwira admitted to VA Hospital; died from epinephrine injection on February 18, 1996.
Feb 18, 1996
Edward Skwira, age 68, died after Gilbert injected epinephrine into his IV line.
Jul 10, 1996
Gilbert confessed to killing patients during a phone call to James Perrault while hospitalized in a psychiatric ward.
Jul 12, 1996
Perrault obtained a restraining order against Gilbert.
Jul 16, 1996
Perrault testified to a Grand Jury against Gilbert.
Aug 15, 1996
Investigators found 'The Handbook of Poisoning' in a pantry that belonged to Kristen at Glenn Gilbert's house.
Aug 20, 1996
Gilbert was temporarily placed in a psychiatric ward at Arbour Hospital for the third time that month.
Sep 15, 1996
Gilbert appeared at Glenn Gilbert's house and attempted to attack him with car keys.
Sep 26, 1996
Gilbert called the Leeds VAMC hospital with a false bomb threat.
Sep 30, 1996
Court ordered Gilbert to be placed in Baystate Medical Center.
Oct 08, 1996
Gilbert was released from Baystate Medical Center and arrested.
Oct 15, 1996
Gilbert was ordered by court to live with her parents in Seataucket, Long Island, New York.
Nov 02, 1996
Gilbert indicted on felony charges for falsely phoning a bomb threat to a federal institution.
Jan 07, 1998
Trial began for Gilbert's false bomb threat charge.
Jan 27, 1998
Gilbert found guilty of falsely phoning a bomb threat to a federal institution and sentenced to 15 months at Danbury Federal Prison.
Nov 24, 1998
Kristen Gilbert officially indicted for murder on four counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
Nov 2000
Jury selection completed for Gilbert's murder trial, consisting of nine women and three men.
Nov 20, 2000
Murder trial began for Kristen Gilbert in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Jan 23, 2001
Glenn Gilbert testified against his ex-wife in trial, telling the court that Kristen had confessed to the murders.
Mar 14, 2001
Gilbert convicted of three counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, and two counts of attempted murder.
Mar 26, 2001
Jury recommended life imprisonment without parole rather than death penalty.
Mar 27, 2001
Judge Michael A. Ponsor sentenced Gilbert to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus 20 years.
May 2001
Gilbert transferred from federal prison for women in Framingham, Massachusetts, to Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jul 25, 2003
Gilbert dropped her federal appeal for a new trial after a US Supreme Court ruling that would have allowed prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Grokipedia ·
Kristen Gilbert“Kristen Gilbert has been housed at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, since her transfer there in May 2001, following her conviction”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Kristen Gilbert“Convicted of four murders and two attempted murders of patients admitted to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Northampton, Massachusetts”
Other government record · Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator ·
View Crime Records & Information On Inmate Kristen Gilbert“Currently hold captive in facility Federal Medical Center (FMC) - Carswell for the crimes committed by the person. Current location of the inmate is Fort Worth, Texas.”
News report · Oxygen ·
Kristen Gilbert: Nurse Murdered Multiple VA Hospital Patients“Kristen Gilbert was found guilty on three counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder”
Court record · University of Richmond School of Law ·
University of Richmond Law Review Volume 41“Kristen Gilbert, wielding the deadly yet plentiful agent epinephrine-her weapon of choice-left a trail of corpses. Gilbert was employed as a nurse at the Northampton VAMC in Leeds, Massachusetts from March 1989 through February 1996.”
Other government record · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Gilbert, Kristen“Became employed as a nurse at Leeds Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Massachusetts; Jury sentenced Gilbert to 4 consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus 20 years”
News report · CBS News ·
Killer Nurse Gets Life“A former veterans hospital nurse who killed four of her patients with injections of poison should spend the rest of her life in prison, a federal jury decided Monday”
News report · UPI ·
VA nurse guilty of murdering vets“Gilbert was convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of Air Force veteran Henry R. Hudon, 35, and Army veterans Kenneth G. Cutting, 41, and Edward S. Skwira, 66. She was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Army veteran Stanley J. Jagodowski, 66.”
News report · Boston Globe ·
Boston Globe Online / Metro“On Jan. 22, 1996, they say Gilbert poisoned Thomas Callahan with epinephrine. Callahan, admitted with pneumonia and pulmonary disease, lapsed into a potentially deadly cardiac arrhythmia. On Dec. 20, 1995, Francis Marier's cardiac arrest on Dec. 20, 1995, officials believe”
Court record · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ·
United States v. Gilbert“Defendant Kristen Gilbert has been indicted on four counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and six counts of assault with intent to murder, all alleged to have been committed upon patients while she was a nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Northampton, Massachusetts”
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