Convicted baby killer Genene Jones is back in the news.
In 1984, former Bexar County nurse Genene Jones was sentenced to 99 years in prison for the 1982 death of 15-month-old Chelsea McClellan and a concurrent 60 year sentence for nearly killing another child, Rolando Santos.
She is suspected of administering fatal injections to an estimated 40 to 60 babies in the San Antonio area.
Jones – now almost 67 years old – is scheduled for mandatory release in March 2018, in accordance with a law to reduce overcrowding in Texas prisons. To prevent her release, prosecutors are bringing additional charges related to the early 1980s deaths of an additional four children at San Antonio's county hospital.
Jones is newly accused of murdering 11-month old Joshua Sawyer, 8-month-old Richard "Ricky" Nelson and 2-year-old Rosemary Vega in 1981, as well as the 1982 death of 4-and-a-half month-old Patrick Zavala.
“As people are well aware, I believe children are a gift from the Lord,” said District Attorney Nico LaHood, who approved a task force investigation into Jones, in a statement. “Genene Jones did not see children in this regard. She is pure evil and justice warrants that she be held accountable for the crimes she committed.
"Our Office will attempt to account for every child whose life was stolen by the actions of Jones. Our only focus is justice.”
Jones, once dubbed an "Angel of Death with a needle," maintained her innocence for over three decades. Newly obtained evidence from 2011 in which Jones calls her acts "heinous," may strengthen the case against her.
What's next for Genene Jones?
Guests:
- Peter Elkind, author of “The Death Shift: Nurse Genene Jones and the Texas Baby Murders” and senior reporter for ProPublica
- Nico LaHood, criminal district attorney of Bexar County
- Jason Goss, assistant criminal district attorney of Bexar County
*Audio for this segment will be available by 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11
