Joseph Michael Swango American doctor and serial killer Date of Birth: 21.10.1954 Country: USA

1. Biography of Joseph Michael Swango
2. Early Life and Education
3. The Medical Career and Suspicion
4. The Return and Continued Crimes
5. International Crimes and Capture
6. Method of Killing

Biography of Joseph Michael Swango

Joseph Michael Swango was an American doctor and serial killer who was convicted of murdering four people. However, it is estimated that he was responsible for at least 60 cases of fatal poisoning of his patients and colleagues. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Michael Swango was born on October 21, 1954, in Tacoma, Washington, U.S. He grew up in Quincy, Illinois, and attended Quincy Catholic Boys High School, where he graduated in 1972. During his time there, he played the clarinet and was a member of the group 'Quincy Notre Dame.' Despite being raised as a Presbyterian, Swango received his education from Catholic institutions.

After serving in the Marine Corps, Swango attended Quincy College and later enrolled in the Medical School at Southern Illinois University. It was during his time in medical school that Swango first displayed his dark side. Although he excelled academically and even received an award from the American Chemical Society, his clinical practices raised suspicion. The number of dying patients noticeably increased during his shifts, but this went unnoticed for some time.

The Medical Career and Suspicion

Swango's misconduct continued during his surgical internship at Ohio State University Medical Center in 1983. Nurses began to notice that seemingly healthy patients were dying frequently during his shifts. One nurse caught him injecting a patient with a suspicious substance. However, when the nurses reported their concerns to the administration, they were dismissed as paranoia. In 1984, all suspicions against Swango were dropped, but his negligent work prevented him from advancing in his medical career.

In July 1984, Swango returned to Quincy and began working in an emergency room. Over time, the paramedics noticed that they would feel ill whenever Swango brought them coffee or pastries. He was arrested in October of the same year when toxic substances were found in his possession. In August 1985, he was convicted of poisoning his colleagues and sentenced to five years in prison.

The Return and Continued Crimes

Swango was released from prison in 1989 and found a job as a laboratory technician in Newport News, Virginia. Several coworkers sought medical help for constant and worsening stomach pain. At around the same time, Swango met Kristin Kinney, a nurse from Riverside Hospital, and the couple planned to get married. In 1991, Swango legally changed his name to Daniel J. Adams and managed to work at a medical center in Sioux Falls by falsifying his criminal record.

When Swango attempted to join the American Medical Association (AMA), a more thorough background check revealed his history of poisonings. After Kinney, who suffered from severe migraines, broke up with him, her headaches suddenly stopped. Kinney's mother, Sharon Cooper, began investigating Swango and was shocked that someone with his history was allowed to practice medicine.

International Crimes and Capture

In November 1994, Swango arrived in Zimbabwe and began working at Mnene Hospital under a false identity. Mysterious patient deaths continued for a year before he was arrested. Swango managed to escape and hide in Zambia. In March 1997, he applied for a job at the Royal Hospital in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, using a fake resume.

In June 1997, Swango was apprehended at Chicago O'Hare International Airport while en route to Saudi Arabia. In July 1998, he was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for fraudulent activities. However, a week before his release, he was charged with three counts of murder, assault, fraud, and conspiracy. In September 2000, Swango pleaded guilty to murder and fraud due to the fear of the death penalty and extradition to Zimbabwe. He was sentenced to three life imprisonments without the possibility of parole.

Method of Killing

Swango often used cyanide to poison his colleagues, adding it to their food and beverages. He also poisoned his patients with various toxins but primarily relied on overdosing them with medications he prescribed. Additionally, he would prescribe dangerous drugs to patients who did not need them.