[17] On September 6, he pleaded guilty to the three murder counts, as well as counts of wire fraud and mail fraud, before Judge Jacob Mishler. Swango was born in Tacoma, Washington and raised in Quincy, Illinois, the middle child of Muriel and John Virgil Swango. Within a short period of time, many of his paramedic co-workers realized that whenever he offered coffee or any other food to anyone, that person fell violently ill without any apparent reason. Swango's father was a career U.S. Army officer who served in the Vietnam War, was listed in Who's Who in Government 1972-1973, and was troubled by alcoholism. Drag images here or select from your computer for COL John Virgil Swango memorial. There was also no pathological test for the presence of ricin, which left no identifiable trace in the bloodstream or body. This book is well researched, but this serial killer was so prolific it gets repetitive. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. His mother clipped the articles and circulated them among relatives. Michael Swango was born in Tacoma, Washington and raised in Quincy, Illinois, the middle child of Muriel and John Virgil Swango. Swango bridled at their ribbing and increasingly kept to himself.Everyone in the class was soon nearly overwhelmed by the workload and the battery of tests administered to first-year med students. He was employed until 1991, when he resigned his position to seek out a new position as a doctor. Every first-year medical student was required to take and pass 476 written tests during the first year. Thus, it came as a surprise to many when Swango concentrated his courses in neurosurgery, especially considering the cadaver incident. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. describes a professional hierarchy where doctors repeatedly accept the word of fellow physicians over that of nurses, hospital employees, and patientseven as horrible truths begin to emerge. Swango was formally indicted on July 17, 2000 and pleaded not guilty. Reviewed in Italy on September 18, 2017. Instead, Cashman told Stewart, he was shocked to learn that all these years later Swango was still treating patients. Search above to list available cemeteries. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John v Swango. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The nurses soon noticed that patients frequently died mysteriously when he worked as the floor intern in Rhodes Hall at OSU. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Lance Morrow The New York Times Book Review Chillingly thorough.Wonderfully done.An elaborate journalistic reconstruction that has the fascination of an acutely observed and troubling novel. [7], The AMA temporarily lost track of Swango, who managed to find a place in the psychiatric residency program at the Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York. During his suspension, Swango hired lawyer David Coltart to enable him to return to clinical practice. "That's the heart, Mike," Folce said, sarcastically emphasizing the word "heart." The family suffered from the alcoholic abuse of the father. A few years later, his mother divorced his father, who had become alcoholic and suffered from depression upon his return from Vietnam. This was the case not just at the country's most prestigious institutions, but also at newer, less well-known medical schools such as Southern Illinois University. The FBI believes he may be responsible for as many as 60 deaths, which would make him one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. In looking into his background, Stewart learned that Swango, the second of three sons born to Muriel and John Virgil Swango, had made the honor roll every year at a rigorous private high school, winding up as valedictorian. Please enter your email and password to sign in. On August 23, 1985, Swango was convicted of aggravated battery for poisoning co-workers. Mary Grace Vahlkamp worked at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy Illinois in its dietary department. U.S. participation in the Vietnam War, and the drafting of over six hundred thousand Americans, divided the country and led to a tumultuous 1960s, which resonated on TCU's campus. No one ever heard him play the clarinet or the piano again.Michael completed basic training at the Marines' boot camp at San Diego, where he was trained as a rifleman, earning the designation of sharpshooter. In 1989, Swango, now released from prison, found work as a counselor at the state career development center in Newport News, Virginia. While he worked in Rhodes Hall at OSU, nurses noticed that apparently healthy patients began dying mysteriously with alarming frequency. That was Swango's first official step on the path to becoming a physician. During his time there, several employees sought medical attention with complaints of persistent and increasing stomach pains. Since the latest Swango incident took place at a Veterans Affairs facility, federal authorities got involved. [2] The FBI obtained a warrant charging Swango with using fraudulent credentials to gain entry to a Veterans Affairs hospital.[11]. So, how much is Michael Swango worth at the age of 68 years old? He was jumpy, nervous, and seemed unable to relax. Upon his return from Vietnam, Swango's father became depressed and was divorced by Muriel. He decided to attend Millikin University, a small, private liberal arts school in Decatur, Illinois, about a three-hour drive from Quincy, where he received a full-tuition scholarship in music. [2], Although the FBI, the VA, and prosecutors for the Eastern District of New York were convinced Swango was a serial killer, they knew it would be difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. The signal sent medical students flocking to the parties, which were often rowdy affairs where they could blow off steam. More Criminals Mullah Krekar Dawood Ibrahim Ike Clanton Frank Costello Jean Negulesco Nick Hexum He saw no action overseas during his service, but his training in the Marines left him with a commitment to physical exercise. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt. In November 1994, he settled in Zimbabwe and used forged documents to obtain a job at Mnene Lutheran Mission Hospital in the center of the country. [2], Swango's lackadaisical approach to his studies caught up with him a month before he was due to graduate, when it was discovered that he had faked checkups during his OB/GYN rotation. [3] During high school, he played clarinet in the band. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Because of the failure to perform adequate autopsies, no firm conclusions could be drawn. [15], Additionally, prosecutors found evidence that Swango lied about the death of Cynthia Ann McGee, a patient he treated during his internship at OSU. Michael Swango has appeared on the American television show 'Unsolved Mysteries,' the Oxygen series 'It Takes a Killer,' and the National Geographic Channel episode 'Angel of Death.' Estimated Net Worth The net worth of Michael is $10million. He crossed the border to Zambia and subsequently to Namibia, where he found temporary medical work. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2019. ; Stony Brook, N.Y.; and the rural regions of Zimbabwe. He is incarcerated at ADX Florence. Not only was outside employment during the first year frowned upon (Rosenthal had to get permission from the dean to teach a Sunday school class in Carbondale), but Swango was commuting to a city one hundred miles away. Today, as Michael Swango sits in a Colorado prison, we discuss his life, crimes, and family history. While he worked in Rhodes Hall at OSU, nurses noticed that apparently healthy patients began dying mysteriously with alarming frequency. He is from United States. He found doctors, nurses, health-care administrators and patients from stage after stage of Swango's career who believed the medical profession had allowed a bad apple into the barrel. Swango's father was a career United States Army officer who. In the surgery rotation, students were assigned in pairs to give oral presentations. , Simon & Schuster; First Printing edition (June 15, 2000), Language There were some titters from other students. "Muriel proudly reported to family members that Michael had been accepted at several medical schools. If a medical school thought it might be interested, then, and only then, would it send a candidate its own application. He should have been asleep. "It happened often with Swango. Swango was cleared by a cursory investigation in 1984. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Notes and textbooks weren't allowed in the exam room.That didn't deter Swango, however, from using his notes during the exam. He died on January 29, 1982 in Quincy, Illinois, USA. In 1989, Swango, now released from prison, found work as a counselor at the state career development center in Newport News, Virginia. Depending on the patient, the procedure can take anywhere from a half-hour to ninety minutes. Failed to report flower. He is serving a 42-month sentence in a federal prison at Sheridan, Ore. One nurse caught him injecting some "medicine" into a patient who later became strangely ill.[2], The nurses reported their concerns to administrators but were met with accusations of paranoia. Though most students sharing a neurosurgery specialty would observe each other's surgeries, Sweeney stayed away from Swango's he was horrified by the prospect of what he might see and Swango never showed up at Sweeney's, either.Zawodniak, though he was genial and friendly, also developed an aversion to Swango. Dr. Robert B. Daroff The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) Swango's odyssey is so compelling that I became riveted. After his landlady became sick, forensic analysis of her hair confirmed toxic levels of arsenic, which prompted Zimbabwe CID to pass the information through Interpol to the FBI. Episode 3: Doctor Death Publisher He also appealed to the authorities at Mpilo Hospital, Bulawayo, to allow him in the interim to continue working voluntarily there; however, this was opposed by Abdollah Mesbah, a surgical resident, who had often found him snooping around mysteriously in the wards and in the Intensive care unit (ICU) even when not on call. In October of that year, Swango was arrested by the Quincy Police Department after arsenic and other poisons were found in his possession. The younger Swango enjoyed being at the scene of gruesome diasters as a paramedic, was obsessed with firearms and kept a small arsenal at home, and dwelled on news reports of mass murder, such as the July 1984 shooting spree at a McDonald's restaurant in San Ysidro, California.". On September 6, he pleaded guilty to the three murder counts, as well as counts of wire fraud and mail fraud, before Judge Jacob Mishler. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. How do we create a person's profile? Source: The Odessa American (TX), 6 Feb 1994. Hamilton, Business Week Blind Eye is a flat-out horrifying nonfiction profile of Michael SwangoStewart is an excellent writer and reporterThis is a brave and passionate book. Swango's odyssey is so compelling that I became riveted. He passed awayon 29 January 1982. That his thinly-concealed dark deeds were so prevalent and unchecked before his final arrest, is seriously shocking. 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Talley telephoned Jordan Cohen, the dean at Stony Brook. Eventually, prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty and extradition off the table in return for Swango accepting a sentence of life in prison without parole. But Swango didn't drink alcohol and, despite his close relationship to Wacaser, never attended the parties. An indictment charged Swango with making a false statement to gain admittance to a U.S. Veterans Administration hospital. Among his classmates, the decision to become a doctor formed a large part of their getting-acquainted conversations. Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. However, after his girlfriend broke up with him, he became reclusive, left college and joined the Marine Corps. Again, his patients began dying mysteriously. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Reprinted by permission. [2] Upon his return from Vietnam, John Swango became depressed and he and his wife Muriel divorced. He didn't participate in any sports; and in the yearbook he listed the biology club and the college radio station as his only extracurricular activities. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Stewart tells a riveting tale of terror, a true page-turner. Some of his fellow students had suspected he had been faking checkups as early as his second year, but this was the first time he had been caught red-handed. In each locale, those in charge did little or nothing to monitor Swango's conduct. But Swango never came in during the day or evening, preferring to work on his dissection after midnight, when the lab was usually deserted. That is incorrect. Even Swango finally recognized that he couldn't adequately describe the region's anatomical characteristics using his own handiwork. , money, salary, income, and assets. He was popular among students and highly respected in his field, and the fact that he championed Swango went a long way to ease student concerns about Swango's competence. Upon his return from Vietnam, the elder Swango became depressed and was divorced by Muriel. [13] Because of the failure to perform adequate autopsies, no firm conclusions could be drawn. On April 30, 1975, with the fall of Saigon, the Vietnam War ended and TCU, after adding more names to its Veterans Memorial, slipped back into normalcy. An exception was the medical school, whose year-round schedule enabled students to complete the standard four-year medical school curriculum in three years. He was forced out after being caught working on a scrapbook of disasters on work time. One of the first clinical assignments medical students receive is to take histories and perform physicals "H & P's" on hospital patients. He lives in New York. Joseph Nocera Fortune Is Blind Eye worth reading? View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro . Dashing into the hallway between tests seemed perilously close to cheating, though it wasn't expressly forbidden. The lab reports were passed on by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) through Interpol to the FBI, who subsequently visited Zimbabwe to interview Cotton and the pathologist in Bulawayo, Stanford Mathe. For when his presentation finally came, and he unveiled his dissection, his fellow students gasped. One member of the class had to repeat the first year, and one person flunked out, but when the rest of the class moved on to the second year in Springfield, Swango was among them.The central Illinois city of Springfield, with a population just over 100,000, seems a metropolis compared with Carbondale. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. The wedding took place in St. Rose of Lima church in Quincy Illinois. Soon, many of the paramedics on staff began noticing that whenever Swango prepared the coffee or brought any food in, several of them usually became violently ill, with no apparent cause. John V Swango 1914 Born c. 1914 Last Known Residence Adams County, Illinois United States Summary John V Swango of Adams County, Illinois United States was born c. 1914. Following complaints, OSU performed a casual investigation on him and gave him a clean chit. Add to your scrapbook. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Finally Chandra Banerjee, the first-year professor of pulmonary medicine, admonished his students: "Goddammit, no Swangoing." Award-winning author, James B. Stewart, has penned a riveting true-crime tale about golden-boy, Michael Swango, who seems destined for a successful career as a medical doctor. John Virgil Swango also liked the strict ethical and moral foundation of the Catholic curriculum. [10], Kinney's mother, Sharon Cooper, was horrified to find out that a person with Swango's history could be allowed to practice medicine. Inevitably, other students began to do likewise, which led to considerable faculty concern. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. : COMPLETO.docx from SOCIALES 1 at Autonomous University of Puebla. "That's just what happens. Try again later. [4] Swango graduated from Quincy summa cum laude and was given the American Chemical Society Award. Resend Activation Email. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. With patients, he sometimes used poisons as well, but usually, he administered an overdose of whichever drug the patient had been prescribed, or wrote unnecessary prescriptions for dangerous drugs. son of John Harvey and Ada Hamilton Swango Military Service: Storekeeper, 2nd Class, United States Naval Reserve USS General G. O. Squier [AP130, supply ship] 9/11/1943 to 5/17/1946-----Family Members. He was the band's first-chair clarinet, as well as its president, and he sang in the glee club. Wacaser drove around town in a truck that had emblazoned on it in bold letters, "Lyle Wacaser, M.D., Neurosurgery and Light Hauling." "Don't you feel bad that she died? [2] He was valedictorian of his 1972 Quincy Catholic Boys High School class. The city is attractive to SIU because its two hospitals, St. John's and Memorial, are much larger than any in Carbondale, and it is there that SIU medical students gain their first clinical experience. [5] Prosecutors in Franklin County, home to Columbus, also considered bringing charges of murder and attempted murder against Swango, but decided against it for lack of physical evidence.[2]. [2] Nonetheless, it was another decade before OSU formally conceded it should have called in outside investigators. Jerome E. Groopman The Wall Street Journal Stewart tells a riveting tale of terror, a true page-turner. (Richard Kerkering, Muriel's son from a previous marriage, lived with his father.) Joseph Michael Swango aka Michael Kirk (born October 21, 1954) is an American serial killer, and formerly a licenced physician who admitted to the killing of 4 individuals, however it is estimated his body count runs to sixty patients, and colleagues. 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