Page 6 - ATD 27MAY2017

A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 27 May 2017

Former Texas nurse accused of killing dozens of kids in ‘80s

By DAVID WARREN may have killed some or all pear to be a sort of miracle
Associated Press of those children because worker.
DALLAS (AP) — A Texas they died under unusual LaHood said the new mur-
nurse who is in prison for the circumstances during or der charge is based on
1982 killing of a toddler has shortly after her shifts. fresh evidence that came
been charged with murder “She’s been suspected in to light and a review of old
in the death of an infant a dozens of infant deaths evidence. He also said the
year earlier, and authorities and she’s only been held deaths of some of the oth-
said Friday that they think accountable in one,” he er children are being re-ex-
she may have killed up to said. It’s not clear why amined and that addition-
60 young children around Jones’ actions, involving so al charges could be com-
that time.Genene Jones, many suspected victims, ing. Jones has been consis-
66, is serving concurrent were not detected earlier. tently denied parole over
99-year and 60-year sen- But Sam Millsap, a previous the years. She was due to
tences at a Gatesville district attorney in Bexar be released next March af-
prison for the 1982 killing of County, told KSAT-TV in ter serving one-third of her
15-month-old Chelsea Mc- 2013 that medical records sentence under a manda-
Clelland and the sickening at the San Antonio hospi- tory release law adopted in
of a 4-week-old boy who tal at one point were acci- 1977 to help alleviate prison
survived. The girl was given dently destroyed, hamper- overcrowding. The law was
a fatal injection of a mus- ing efforts by investigators overhauled 10 years later.
cle relaxant and the boy to prove their suspicions. Jones, whose case has
received a large injection Chelsea McClelland died been chronicled in two
of a blood thinner. after receiving an injection books, a TV movie and
Jones was due to be freed at a clinic in Kerrville, north- numerous articles, was
next March under a man- west of San Antonio, and “emotional” when she was
datory release law that This photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prosecutors at Jones’ 1984 served an arrest warrant
was in place when she was shows Genene Jones. Authorities said Friday, May 26, 2017, that murder trial said the nurse Thursday, LaHood said.
convicted. But on Thurs- Jones, a Texas nurse who is in prison for the 1984 killing of a tod- lethally injected children “We have every reason
dler and who faces new charges in the 1981 death of an infant
day, the Bexar County is suspected of killing as many as 60 young children who were there to demonstrate the to believe that she fully
district attorney’s office in her care around that time. need for a pediatric inten- expected to get out next
announced that she has (Texas Department of Criminal Justice. via AP) sive care unit at a nearby year,” he said.
been charged in the 1981 hospital. Because of the new
death of 11-month-old During Jones’ time working other complications. Other prosecutors theo- charge, Jones will be trans-
Joshua Sawyer, who inves- in hospitals and clinics in At a news conference Fri- rized that Jones’ tactic was ferred to the Bexar County
tigators say died of a fatal San Antonio and elsewhere day in San Antonio, District to take swift medical ac- jail and held on a $1 million
overdose of an anti-seizure in Texas, children died of Attorney Nico LaHood said tion and save some of her bond while the case is pros-
drug, Dilantin. unexplained seizures and investigators believe Jones victims, making herself ap- ecuted. q

Bullet tests clear Detroit man in prison since 1992

By ED WHITE in Marshall, Michigan. lets still in police storage the Wayne County pros- true.
Associated Press His freedom was the climax ruled out any connection, ecutor’s office agreed it This outlandish conduct
DETROIT (AP) — A man of an extraordinary effort Innocence Clinic director should be erased. A sec- cost Desmond Ricks 25
who claims Detroit police to clear himself in a fatal David Moran said. ond trial seems highly un- years,” he said.
framed him for a 1992 slay- shooting outside a Detroit One of the bullets doesn’t likely. Spokeswoman Maria The crime lab was shut
ing walked out of prison burger joint in 1992. match the gun and the Miller said a decision about down after a 2008 audit
for the first time in 25 years The Innocence Clinic at other was too mutilated whether to completely dis- revealed that it had per-
after new tests showed bul- University of Michigan law for a thorough analysis, he miss the case will be dis- formed sloppy work, includ-
lets taken from the victim’s school asked Judge Rich- said. cussed in court on June 1. ing the botched analysis of
body didn’t come from a ard Skutt to reopen the “I’m not bitter. I’m not an- Moran said Ricks was a gun evidence.
gun that was presented at case after prosecutors in gry. I’m just relieved,” Ricks great advocate for his own Miller said it’s too early to
trial as the murder weapon. 2015 turned over photos of said. “I want to get a job. cause. say whether there should
“Justice prevailed,” Des- two bullets removed from I want to pay taxes. I just “What he was saying be an investigation to de-
mond Ricks, 51, told The the victim, Gerry Bennett. want to be a normal citi- seemed to be outlandish: termine whether the bullet
Associated Press after en- Prosecutors at trial said a zen.” The Detroit police crime lab dispute in Ricks’ case was
joying a grilled turkey-and- gun belonging to Ricks’ Skutt threw out Ricks’ would not only make mis- accidental or deliberate.
cheese sandwich with his mother was used to kill Ben- second-degree murder takes but switch bullets. It It’s possible the statute of
legal team at a restaurant nett. But new tests on bul- conviction on Friday after wasn’t outlandish — it was limitations has lapsed.q