Orville Lynn Majors Former American orderly who killed six patients Date of Birth: 24.04.1964 Country: USA

1. Former American Sanitarian Found Guilty of Killing Six Patients
2. Increasing Deaths in Vermillion County Hospital
3. Loss of License and Criminal Charges
4. The Verdict and Sentencing

Former American Sanitarian Found Guilty of Killing Six Patients

Orville Lynn Majors, a former licensed sanitarian from Clinton, Indiana, was convicted of murdering six of his patients. It is believed that between 1993 and 1995, he may have been responsible for the deaths of up to 130 individuals. Majors targeted demanding and complaining patients, as well as those who required his care beyond regular working hours.

Increasing Deaths in Vermillion County Hospital

Suspicion surrounding Majors arose when the number of deaths among patients at Vermillion County Hospital, where he worked, increased. Prior to his arrival, an average of 26 patients died each year. However, when he began his duties, the number rose to 100 deaths per year. Majors' behavior and attitude towards the sick also fueled suspicions. One hospital employee, testifying in court, recounted an incident where Majors was asked what he was doing at the bedside of an elderly, agitated patient. He responded with the chilling remark, "Waiting for her to die." Witnesses claimed that the patient passed away within minutes. Supervisory investigations revealed that the mortality rate increased by nearly 40% during Majors' shifts compared to other nurses and caregivers. It was believed that Majors administered injections of potassium chloride, which led to cardiac arrest, along with other methods of murder.

Loss of License and Criminal Charges

Majors' license was suspended in 1995, resulting in him losing his job. Subsequently, the hospital's mortality rate returned to its previous levels. Following an investigation by the state of Indiana, criminal charges were filed against Majors, and he was arrested in December 1997. During the trial, 79 witnesses were called to testify. Some witnesses revealed Majors' hatred for the elderly, referring to them as "white trash" and "weaklings," and his belief that all elderly patients should be "gassed." The judge ruled that the supervisory investigations, which showed an increase in deaths during Majors' employment at the hospital, were inadmissible as evidence. However, testimonies from witnesses who heard Majors' derogatory terms directed towards elderly patients, as well as the discovery of lethal substances used in his killings at his home, left no chance for an acquittal.

The Verdict and Sentencing

Hospital authorities determined that Majors was involved in 130 of the 147 suspicious deaths. However, the judge prohibited any information regarding these "mysterious deaths" from being presented to the jury, citing their excessive workload. Majors' relatives believe that he became a scapegoat, covering up substandard medical practices in the hospital. Majors himself explained that the increased mortality rate during his shifts was due to his overtime work. In October 1999, Majors was found guilty of murdering six patients, aged 56 to 89. He was sentenced to 360 years in prison, with 60 years for each count of murder.