Michael Swango

Overview

Michael Joseph Swango, born James Michael Swango on October 21, 1954, in Tacoma, Washington, stands as one of the most chilling figures in American true crime history. This licensed physician is believed to have been involved in the deaths of as many as 60 patients and colleagues across the United States and Zimbabwe, although he admitted to causing only four deaths. In 2000, he was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, and he currently resides at ADX Florence, a high-security federal prison, at his own request.

Quick Facts

• Born: October 21, 1954 (age 70)
• Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
• Other names: David J. Adams, Jack Kirk, Michael Kirk, Michael Swan
• Criminal Status: Incarcerated
• Convictions:
  • New York: First-degree murder (3 counts)
  • Ohio: Aggravated murder
• Criminal Penalty: Life without parole in New York; 20 years to life in Ohio
• Victims: Estimated between 4 to 60
• Span of Crimes: 1981–1997
• Countries Involved: United States, Zimbabwe
• States Involved: Illinois, New York, Ohio, South Dakota
• Date Apprehended: June 1997
• Imprisoned at: ADX Florence

Early Life

Michael Swango grew up in Quincy, Illinois, as the middle child of Muriel and John Virgil Swango. His father was a career U.S. Army officer who served in Vietnam, and his return from the war was marked by severe depression and alcoholism, leading to a divorce from Swango's mother. The absence of his father created a closer bond with his mother, and Swango excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian from Quincy Catholic Boys High School in 1972 while also playing the clarinet in the school band.

After high school, Swango enlisted in the Marine Corps, graduating from recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. He was honorably discharged in 1980, and though he didn't see combat, his military training instilled in him a commitment to physical fitness. At Quincy University, he was a standout student, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the American Chemical Society Award.

Medical School

Swango's time at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU) revealed troubling behavioral patterns. Despite his academic brilliance, he preferred working as an ambulance attendant, which allowed him to indulge in a disturbing fascination with dying patients. This obsession went largely unnoticed at the time, but it became alarming when several patients under his care began to suffer life-threatening emergencies, with at least five dying.

His lackadaisical approach to his studies led to a near expulsion a month before graduation when it was discovered he had faked checkups during his OB/GYN rotation. Although some fellow students had suspected him earlier, he managed to graduate a year later than his class, under the condition that he repeat certain rotations and complete additional assignments.

Murders

Ohio State University Medical Center

Swango's dark path took a more sinister turn when he began a surgical internship at Ohio State University Medical Center in 1983. His presence was linked to a series of mysterious patient deaths, alarming nurses who observed that patients under his care were dying at an unprecedented rate. One nurse caught him injecting a patient with an unknown substance, which raised red flags, but administrators dismissed the nurses' concerns as paranoia. A cursory investigation in 1984 cleared Swango, but the hospital was reluctant to fire him, fearing potential lawsuits.

After his internship ended, Swango returned to Quincy, working as an EMT despite having been fired from a previous ambulance service for reckless behavior. Colleagues reported bizarre behavior, and many became ill after consuming food or coffee he prepared. In October 1984, he was arrested when arsenic and other poisons were discovered in his possession, leading to a conviction for aggravated battery in 1985. He received a five-year prison sentence, but scrutiny over his time at OSU prompted calls for a more thorough investigation that never came to fruition.

Post-Prison Life

Upon his release in 1989, Swango worked various jobs, including a stint as a counselor in Virginia, though he was soon let go for unprofessional conduct. He met Kristin Lynn Kinney, a nurse at Riverside Hospital, and the two fell in love. However, his pattern of suspicious behavior continued, as employees at his workplace complained of stomach pains that coincided with his presence.

Swango legally changed his name to Daniel J. Adams in 1991, forging documents to apply for residency programs. Despite his past, he secured a position at Sanford USD Medical Center in South Dakota, where colleagues once again noticed inexplicable patient deaths. His downfall came when the American Medical Association (AMA) discovered his poisoning conviction during a routine background check, leading to his firing in 1996.

Stony Brook University and Zimbabwe

Swango managed to find a place in the psychiatric residency program at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, but patient deaths resumed. Tragedy struck when Kinney died by suicide, and arsenic was later found in her body, raising suspicions about Swango's involvement. Kinney's mother took action, alerting authorities about Swango’s criminal past, resulting in his immediate termination from Stony Brook.

In a twist of fate, Swango fled to Zimbabwe in 1994, where he again found employment at Mnene Lutheran Mission Hospital. Mysterious patient deaths continued, leading to his suspension after the medical director raised concerns. A local woman he rented from became violently ill after a meal she prepared for him, leading to an investigation that confirmed arsenic poisoning.

Arrest and Guilty Plea

As authorities closed in, Swango evaded capture, traveling to Zambia and Namibia before applying for a job in Saudi Arabia. However, he was arrested at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in June 1997, charged with using fraudulent credentials. Faced with overwhelming evidence, he pleaded guilty to defrauding the government in 1998 and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with restrictions on his ability to handle food or drugs.

The FBI and prosecutors believed they had a serial killer on their hands but struggled to gather sufficient evidence to prove it. They exhumed bodies of deceased patients and discovered toxic chemicals, linking Swango definitively to murders. As the investigation progressed, he was charged with three counts of murder and a host of other crimes in 2000, leading to a plea agreement to avoid extradition to Zimbabwe where he faced the death penalty.

Swango ultimately pleaded guilty to three murder counts and was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole, confirming his place as one of America’s most notorious serial killers. His chilling notebook entries, detailing the thrill he derived from his crimes, sent shivers down the spines of those who read them.

Modus Operandi

Swango's methods of murder were disturbingly consistent. He often employed poisons, particularly arsenic, to kill non-patients, slipping them into food and beverages. With patients, he typically resorted to drug overdoses or unnecessary prescriptions of dangerous medications. The sheer audacity of his actions, coupled with his medical training, allowed him to evade detection for years, making his story all the more horrifying.

Conclusion

The case of Michael Swango is a haunting reminder of the dangers that can lurk beneath the surface in the medical profession. Despite numerous opportunities to stop him, systemic failures allowed him to continue his killing spree for years, leaving behind a trail of devastation that still resonates today.

Sources

• Goldsmith, Suzanne. "Timeline of Serial Killer Michael Swango's Life and Crimes." Columbus Monthly.
• Stewart, James B. (1999). Blind Eye: How the Medical Establishment Let a Doctor Get Away With Murder. Simon & Schuster.
• "Doctor of Death: The Twisted Crime Spree of Michael Swango." The Lineup.
• Cooper, Michael. "Former Doctor Charged in Death of 3 Patients." The New York Times.
• LeDuff, Charlie. "Man to Admit to Murdering 3 L.I. Patients." The New York Times.

For further details, you can check the original Wikipedia article here.