The Serial Killer that Preyed on Helpless Children

Nurse Beverly Allitt suffers from Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy

Having a child is dubbed as one of the greatest joys in life. Now, imagine — your greatest joy robbed from you at a supposed safe place for a child, a hospital where doctors and nurses took on oath to do no harm.

Beverly Allitt was born in the rural village of Corby Glen, Lincolnshire. She was just like any other average child except for one disturbing trait of hers, her extreme attention-seeking behavior. She would cut herself, wear bandages, and cast when she had no real injuries. Her ex-boyfriends even nicknamed her ‘The Fable’ as she kept concocting lies about herself.

Later, experts identified those as signs of a psychological disorder, Munchausen’s Syndrome, where Allitt would self-inflict harm to get attention. She gradually became worse, as she kept showing up at the hospital with fake symptoms that eventually led to removing her perfectly healthy appendix.

Her recovery was slow as she often picked on her surgery scars. She would go from one hospital to another for a ‘second medical advice.’ When that was no longer enough, her psychological disorder escalated to Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, where she would harm another for attention.

Her behavior grew more erratic as she smeared stool on the walls of the nursing home. She even falsely accused her boyfriend of raping her and impregnating her.

In 1991, despite her poor track records in college, 22-year-old Allitt was finally accepted by Grantham & Kesteven Hospital. The hospital was understaffed at that time and needed extra pairs of hands.

On February 21st, 1991, she claimed her first victim, 7-month-year-old Liam Taylor, who had a chest infection. He had a respiratory emergency that night but recovered. The following night, under the care of Allitt, he suffered another respiratory emergency and, shortly, a cardiac arrest. He was barely kept alive with the help of life-support equipment. His parents made the heart-wrenching decision of letting him go as little Liam had too much brain damage. In truth, it was Allitt who overdosed the child with insulin, but no one suspected her.

Two weeks later, she claimed another victim, 11-year-old Timothy Hardwick, admitted for cerebral palsy. Again, under the sole care of Allitt, Timothy suffered a respiratory emergency and passed away.

On March 3rd, 1991, 1-year-old Kayley Desmond was admitted with a chest infection and was recovering well, but within 5 days under the care of Allitt, she suffered a cardiac arrest. Luckily, she escaped from Allitt’s secret killing spree as she transferred to another nearby hospital, where she made a full recovery. Unlike Liam and Timothy, they discovered a suspicious puncture wound in her armpit and adjacent air bubble, but it was concluded as an accidental injection.

2 weeks later, Allitt almost murdered her 4th victim, 5-month-year-old, Paul Crampton, through several large dosages of insulin which sent him into a coma 3 times. He survived as he was transferred to another hospital, but his insulin level was abnormally high upon arrival. Again, it was Allitt accompanying him to the new hospital, but fortunately, he recovered well.

Allitt’s fifth and sixth victims were Bradley Gibson and Yik Hung Chan, who suffered abnormally high insulin levels and oxygen desaturation respectively. Both recovered when they transferred out.

Her next victims were 2-month-old twin sisters, Becky and Katie Philips. Allitt overdosed Becky Philips, who later died at home. Worried that Katie might have whatever Becky had, Katie was unknowingly sent to the hospital into Allitt’s murderous hands. On that day itself, Allitt overdosed Katie with insulin and potassium, sending her into a respiratory emergency like her previous victims. Katie survived by transferring to another hospital but with permanent brain damage, partial blindness, and paralysis.

Allitt’s last victim was 15-month-old Claire Peck. She was left alone with Allitt twice for short periods, where the resuscitation team revived her the first time but failed the second time.

In the beginning, colleagues empathize with Allitt, a new inexperienced nurse losing patients after patients. Later, they realized something was amiss. Even though they expected more sick children during the winter, the spike in the death rate in the children’s ward and the unexplainable level of insulin and potassium was worrying.

On April 30th, the hospital contacted the police, where Stuart Clifton led the investigation. Like her colleagues, Allitt was interviewed by the police but, it went without a hitch nor suspicions. The investigation was not an easy task as the crime scenes were in a hospital where any possible evidence could be destroyed after each incident. The rooms were cleaned, the victim’s symptoms were treated, and those who passed away were buried.

Except for the blood samples.

They were supposed to be disposed of every 3 months to 6 months but luckily, some of the victim’s blood samples were still stored. Out of the 13 stored blood samples, they were able to recover 9 blood samples. The blood sample from Paul Crampton showed that his insulin level was 47 000 milli-units per liter of insulin, the second-highest insulin level recorded in the world. It suggested that someone injected insulin into him.

And, there was one common factor in all of these patients; Beverly Allitt.

Children were falling critically sick on her watch and only deteriorated until they transferred out, where they later recovered. She was also the last one with the key that had access to the fridge containing insulins. During the house search, the police found the missing pages of the nurse logs and a syringe.

Even though Allitt was guilty, her sentence was not a straightforward decision as her mental state had to be taken into consideration. The judge said,

“Once it is accepted that the offender was suffering from mental disorder, difficult ethical and indeed philosophical questions arise as to the degree to which responsibility for the offences in question should be regarded as diminished. I have found that there is an element of sadism in Ms Allitt’s conduct and her offending.”

It was concluded that at the time of her murder spree, her mental illness was not serious enough for her to be transferred into a hospital. Allitt was sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole. But, just in a week in prison, Allitt refused to eat nor drink anything.

She was transferred into Rampton Hospital, where she would serve the rest of her sentence. Her sentence was criticized as it did not seem like justice was served as she was seen enjoying her freedom there. Beverly Allitt herself said,

“It’s not too bad. We’re out, got more freedom in here. I’m not locked up all the time.”

Recently, 52-year-old Allitt received the Covid-19 vaccine before her victim, Katie, who was left with life-long disabilities and needed round-the-clock care. Katie’s Mother, Sue Laccohee, said,

“We don’t mind waiting if people are more vulnerable than us but if we’re bringing Beverly Allitt into the equation you do wonder.”

It remained unclear what underlying health issue Allitt had that she was classed as clinically extremely vulnerable but, Dr. Julie Hankin, Executive Medical Director at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said in an interview for MailOnline,

“Our patients are being vaccinated at the same time as the general public and in line with the priority groups set out by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.”

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