Michelle Knotek, Serial Killer Landlady – 2003, Washington

Wikipedia: Michelle Knotek is a former Raymond, Washington, woman who was convicted in 2004 of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the torture and deaths of Kathy Loreno and Ronald Woodworth, who were both boarders in Knotek’s home. Her husband, David Knotek, was also convicted of the murder of his 19-year-old nephew Shane Watson, who lived with the Knoteks. Michelle Knotek was sentenced to 22 years in prison, which she is serving at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor; her husband David Knotek is serving a 15-year prison sentence at the Monroe Correctional Complex. The Knoteks’ crimes made national headlines due to allegations of abuse and torture.

4 VICTIMS

• Kathy Loreno

Kathy Loreno was a hairdresser working in South Bend, Washington, when she met Michelle Knotek, and the two became friends. In 1991 after an argument between Loreno and her family, Loreno moved out of their home and into the home of Michelle and David Knotek. During her stay at the Knoteks’ home, it was alleged that Loreno suffered physical abuse. In 1994, Loreno was reported missing by family members. When interviewed by authorities, the Knoteks stated that Loreno had run away with a truck driver and moved to Hawaii. Michelle Knotek maintained that she and Loreno were in regular contact. However, a private investigator hired by Loreno’s brother concluded that she had probably been murdered by Michelle Knotek. David Knotek claimed that Loreno died by asphyxiating on her own vomit, but he did not take her to a hospital or report her death to police because of the physical injuries to Loreno’s body.

• Shane Watson

Shane Watson, born in 1975 in Tacoma, was Michelle Knotek’s nephew. Watson moved in with the Knoteks around 1993. Shortly after Loreno’s disappearance in 1994, Watson seemingly vanished too. The Knoteks initially claimed that Watson had run away to Alaska to work on a fishing vessel. David Knotek later claimed that he had shot Watson with a .22 caliber rifle. Investigators alleged that David Knotek killed Watson because Michelle was enraged that Watson took pictures documenting the abuse of Loreno. David Knotek also stated that he burned the bodies of Shane Watson and Kathy Loreno and scattered their ashes at the beach.

• Ronald Woodworth

Ronald Woodworth was a local man who went to live with the Knoteks around 2001. Like Kathy Loreno, Woodworth was also subject to severe physical abuse. Witnesses described seeing Woodworth being forced to do chores outside wearing only his underwear, and to jump from the second story roof onto gravel, wearing nothing on his feet causing broken bones and severe lacerations. They also claimed that Michelle Knotek would burn Woodworth’s injured feet with boiling water and pure bleach. Woodworth went missing in 2003. David Knotek later admitted to burying Woodworth’s body on their property after Michelle told him that Woodworth had committed suicide. An autopsy performed by the King County medical examiner proved that Woodworth’s death was murder.

• James “Mac” McClintock [not in Wikipedia]

James “Mac” McClintock, 81, was a Pearl Harbor veteran, retired merchant crewman and widower. He was adored by his neighbors and popular in the community. About 8 years ago, Mac put his wife, Mary, into a nursing home, and lived alone since. Mac went everywhere with his black Labrador “Sissy.” Mac loved the dog so much that he wanted Sissy buried next to him. September 2001, Mac hired Michelle to care for him. Neighbors heard Michelle screaming at him abusively several times.

Mac wrote a will, leaving his estate, his dog, Sissy and over $5,000.00 to care for his dog, to Michelle, whom he listed as a “friend.” Mac willed Michelle ownership of his estate to take place at Sissy’s death. Mac had several strokes and heart problems, but got around in a motorized cart. He often fell out of his motorized wheelchair, requiring medical aid. Between a 3-4 year period, McClintock called for aid 70 times. But was never seriously injured.

Feb. 9, 2002, James “Mac” McClintock died after “falling” in his home. Someone was in the home when he fell. Michelle called 911 to report he had fallen. Police Chief Dave Eastham said Mac did live long enough to talk to deputies and did not mention foul play.

Michelle took the lead in handling arrangements after his death. Michelle took Sissy and received at least $5,000 from the estate to care for the dog until it’s “death.” Six months later, Michelle reported Sissy died, which meant Mac’s house valued at $140,000, was now Michelle’s.

The death certificate lists the cause of death as “acute subdural hematoma, blunt impact to head.” The doctor who examined his body ruled the manner of death “undetermined.” After examining Mac, the doctor referred the death to the Pacific County coroner, David Burke, who is also the county’s prosecuting attorney.

It is unclear if the office ever looked into the death but the case will be reopened.

Michelle lied about Sissy’s death to take ownership of the home. In fact, Sissy, an older female black lab, came up for adoption when David released their pets for adoption after his arrest. Sissy was identified by the local vet who had treated her when Mac was alive.

After Mac’s death, David began using his Social Security number. In fact, several Social Security numbers were used by David or Michelle. Michelle temporarily moved Woody into Mac’s home after inheriting it. Woody was fixing the house up for sale before Woody died.

After McClintock died, Kaye Thomas, a former Pacific County Sheriff’s Office employee, Kathy’s mother and a friend of Mac’s requested the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office to investigate McClintock’s death. Michelle was taken into custody at the home she inherited from Mac. She was taken without incident. Didion said he was not aware of any attempts by to get authorities to look into McClintock’s death. [McClintock section from: Kari Sable, “A final refuge for those down on their luck: The Raymond, Washington torture-slaying investigation,” TrueCrimeJustice.com]

• Prison

The Pacific County Deputy Prosecutor stated that Michelle Knotek showed “extreme indifference to human life”; Michelle was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kathy Loreno and Ronald Woodworth. David Knotek was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Shane Watson; he was also charged with rendering criminal assistance and unlawful disposal of human remains.

Through plea negotiations, both Knoteks pleaded guilty to lesser charges in 2004. Michelle Knotek entered an Alford plea, in which she did not admit responsibility but acknowledged the prosecutor’s case against her. She pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of manslaughter. While an initial agreement with prosecutors would have sent her to prison for 17 years, the judge sentenced her to 22 years in prison. David Knotek was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Shane Watson. He is eligible for parole in 2019. The daughters communicate with him, but not with their mother, because they believe any contact with her would endanger them and their families.

Michelle Knotek later tried to have her convictions overturned, but her appeal was denied by the Washington Court of Appeals.

• In the Media

The Knoteks’ case has been featured on several television programs, including Wicked Attraction, Sins and Secrets, and Snapped.

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Victims:
Kathy Loreno Thomas – 36, disappeared 1994
Ronald Woodworth – 57; disappeared in Aug. 2003.
Shane Watson – Michelle’s nephew, 19, was born June 6, 1975. Disappeared in 1994.
James “Mac” McClintock – James “Mac” McClintock, 81, was a Pearl Harbor veteran, retired merchant crewman and widower. He was adored by his neighbors and popular in the community. Died Feb. 9, 2002
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Feb. 9, 2002 – James “Mac” McClintock died after “falling” in his home
Jul. 20, 2003 – Woody lived with the Knoteks for 2 years, and was last seen July 20, 2003. According to David, 2 days later, Michelle called him at work, out of town, to say Woody killed himself. July 25, 2003, David came home and buried him.
Aug. 9, 2003 – Police discovered Woodworth’s remains in the couple’s back yard.
Aug. 11, 2003 – “Their first appearance in court was on August 11, 2003. David Knotek is being held on suspicion of assisting his wife in covering up the murders and abuse of Kathy Loreno Thomas and Shane Watson.”
Aug. 13, 2003 – charges were filed in Pacific County Superior Court.
Aug. 18, 2004 – sentenced to more than 22 years.
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[“Man sent to prison for role in torture deaths,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Wa.), Aug. 26, 2004]
[“Woman gets 22 years in deaths of boarders,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Wa.), Aug. 19, 2004]
Long article on the case: [Kari Sable, “A final refuge for those down on their luck: The Raymond, Washington torture-slaying investigation,” TrueCrimeJustice.com]
http://www.karisable.com/skazknotec.htm

 

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Dr. Hsiu-Ying “Lisa” Tseng, Serial Killer Physician – 2012, California

Dr. Hsiu-Ying “Lisa” Tseng is the first US physician to be convicted of homicide for overprescribing medications. The 2016 ruling is a legal landmark. Tseng’s corruption and cynicism was brought to public attention by investigative reporters of the Los Angeles Times. Tseng was arrested March 1, 2012 and charged with three murders. But many more of her patients died from drugs she prescribed. Prosecutors chose not to try cases in which there was a possibility of suicide or in which another physician had also written prescriptions for the victim.

During the 2016 trial, Tseng’s defense lawyer attempted to paint his client as the victim of her patients, claiming Tseng naively trusted them when they claimed they needed drugs for legitimate pain when in actuality they were addicts. They were indeed addicted, yet Tseng was running an illegal “pill mill” at great profit. She wrote 27,000 questionable prescriptions and raked in $5 million in just three years, money she invested in expanding her business, building a new medical clinic. “The Drug Enforcement Administration says Tseng wrote more than 27,000 prescriptions over a three-year period starting in January 2007 — an average of 25 a day.”

Her coldblooded cynicism was proven over and over again. ‘In an interview with The Times in 2010, Tseng acknowledged that she had been confronted about her prescribing habits by her patients’ loved ones, but insisted she had done nothing wrong. ‘They call me all sorts of names — drug doctor, drug-dealing doctor…. I tell parents a lot of times it’s their problem,’ she said.” Six years later, during the 2016 trial the prosecutor revealed that “a coroner’s or law enforcement official called with the same stark message: ‘Your patient has died.’ Her prescribing habits, Niedermann said, remained unchanged.”

It was shown that Tseng “fabricated charts to make it look like she kept thorough records of diagnoses and noted she was weaning them off drugs” and that “ Tseng ignored pleas from family members of patients who demanded she stop prescribing drugs to them.”

“The drugs she allegedly prescribed included oxycodone and alprazolam, are commonly abused and sold on the black market.”

The three deaths for which Tseng was charged with responsibility with were: Joey Rovero, 21, an Arizona State University student from San Ramon, Calif.; Vu Nguyen, 28, of Lake Forest; Steven Ogle, 25, of Palm Desert. Each died in 2009.

On February 5, 2016 she was convicted of three second-degree murders, illegally writing prescriptions for 16 patients, two of whom died, and for two undercover agents. She was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.

[Robert St. Estephe; quotes from various sources, listed below]

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2009 – Joey Rovero, 21, an Arizona State University student from San Ramon, Calif., died.

2009 – Vu Nguyen, 28, of Lake Forest; died.

2009 – Steven Ogle, 25, of Palm Desert, died.

Mar. 1, 2012 – arrested.

Feb. 5, 2016 – “A judge on Friday sentenced a Rowland Heights doctor to 30 years to life in prison for the murders of three of her patients who fatally overdosed, ending a landmark case that some medical experts say could reshape how doctors nationwide handle prescriptions.” “She was also convicted of illegally writing prescriptions for two of the deceased patients and 16 other people, including two undercover agents who were investigating how easily she prescribed addictive pain pills after brief office visits. She was acquitted of illegally writing a hydrocodone prescription to a third undercover officer.”

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[Mark Boster (TNS), “Doctor found guilty of murder of three patients for ‘crazy, outrageous amounts’ of painkillers,” Daily News (N. Y.), Oct. 31, 2015]

[Lisa Girion, Scott Glover and Hailey Branson-Potts, “Doctor charged in fatal prescription overdoses,” Los Angeles Times (Ca.), Mar. 1, 2012]

[Marisa Gerber, “Doctor convicted of murder for patients’ drug overdoses gets 30 years to life in prison,” Los Angeles Times (Ca.), Feb. 5, 2016]

[Amanda Lee Myers, “A Los Angeles-area doctor convicted of second-degree murder for prescribing pain killers that killed three patients was sentenced Friday in a landmark case that many in the medical community believe will create a chilling effect among physicians, U. S. News & World Report, Feb. 5, 2016]

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Gloria Greenfield, Serial Baby-Killing Mom – Ohio 1971 (Charged in 2002)

Gloria Greenfield – formerly Gloria Jean Woods – is suspected of murdering four of her own babies, although evidence was only sufficient to try her for two homicides. The only child born to the Woods couple to survive was the child who was given the name of her mother, Gloria.

The original coroner reports stated that all had died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), a controversial non-diagnosis diagnosis, which in reality translated to “I don’t know what killed the child but I need some sort of label anyway.”

A reexamination of the four deaths resulted in a determination that the originally recorded of cause of death was only justified for one of the deaths, that of Joseph (2 months), who is thought to have died of pneumonia. Another, 28-day old Melissa, was ruled “undetermined. The new cause of death ruling was asphyxia for the other two: Theodore Woods (17 days), on Feb. 8, 1970 and Regina Woods (15 days), who died Mar. 5, 1971.

In 2000 her surviving daughter, Gloria Bennight, became suspicious and ordered death records on her dead siblings. Gloria had herself, when she was an infant, stopped breathing on two occasions – when 44 days and 80 days old – and was rushed to the hospital. Officials noted Bennight’s unusual request and in turn began investigating.

On Febrary 4, 2002, Gloria Greenfield, 53 years old, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, yet on March 22 changed her plea at a subsequent hearing to guilty in a plea deal allowing the dismissal of one homicide charge: the March 9, 1969 death of Melissa Woods (28 days old). The prosecuting attorney stated the apparent motive was insurance payoffs:  $2,000 to $3,000 for each baby.

Gloria Bennight wept at the hearing and read a statement directed to her mother, saying: “You’re still my mom, I love you with all my heat and soul.”

Greenfield was sentenced to 1-20 years in prison, allowing parole as early as 10 months.

[Robert St. Estephe]

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Chronology:

Feb. 1969 – Joseph Woods (2 months), died in hospital; pneumonia; regarded as accurate cause of death.

Feb. 1969 – Melissa Woods (28 days) , died in hospital; charges dismissed; later ruled “undetermined.”

Feb. 8, 1970 – Theodore Woods (17 days), died in crib; later ruled asphyxia.

Mar. 5, 1971 – Regina Woods (15 days) , died in crib; later ruled asphyxia.

Feb. 4, 2002 – arraignment, plea of not guilty; Warren, Ohio.

Apr. 22, 2002 – Gloria Greenfield pleads guilty. Sentenced to 1-20 years in prison (allowing parole as early as 10 months).

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Based on information in:

[Joe Milicia, “Mother charged in three babies deaths 30 years later,” Daily News (Bowling Green, Ky.), Apr. 2, 2002, p. 10A]

[“Mother pleads guilty to killing,” The Bryant Times (Oh.), Apr. 23, 2003, p. 8]

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms.

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Irene Becker, Serial Killer Nurse – Germany, 2006

Nurse Irene Becker – who tended to seriously ill patients in the cardiology ward of Charité hospital in Berlin, Europe’s biggest university hospital – liked to play God. Many of her patients had, even with the best of care, not long to live. But with the kind of care Becker offered to her chosen targets their days were ended abruptly, according to Becker’s whim.

The nurse’s boss and coworkers, even though they knew she abused patients and that suspicious deaths occurred when she was around, let her get away with it. But with the worst of care, the sort provided by Nurse Becker, their days were cut short abruptly. Following the investigation of 15 deaths of patients associated with Becker, Hospital Director Gert Baumann “came in for manifold criticism throughout the trial for failing to raise the alarm earlier.”

At the murder trial Presiding Judge Gert Faust harshly criticized the hospital governors and nurses for failing to report abuse and irregularities surrounding Becker’s patients. Her method was to inject her victims with an overdose of antihypertensive or sedative drugs that she would administer even while physicians were busy with efforts to revive the patient.

Becker was tried in April 2007 for the murder of six people and the attempted murder of two others between June 2005 and October 2006. Her motive was unclear. Becker eventually confessed that she killed four patients and asserted she did so out of sympathy, only wanting to relieve pain. “I acted in the interests of my patients,” she testified early in the trial. “I acted according to their wishes.”

The court found this explanation implausible and rejected the notion that patients requested to be euthanized by her. “State prosecutor Thorsten Neudeck alleged the nurse had given one male patient a lethal injection in 2005 simply because she was angry that he would not calm down.” In another case, the husband was in the room when Becker gave his wife the deadly injection. He testified that if he had known what was in store for his wife he would have slapped the nurse’s hand away.”

Becker, 54,  was convicted of five murders on June 29, 2007 and sentenced to life in prison.

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Charité (hospital), Berlin.

Brigitte Raddatz - prosecutor.

Pater Faust, Chairman of Superior Court 22 (Vorsitzende der 22. Großen Strafkammer).

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Jun. 2005 - Oct. 2006 – murders, in the cardiology ward of Berlin’s Charité hospital.

Oct. 4, 2006 – “The clinic had turned the criminal police on 4 October 2006 after suspicions. Since then, the woman is in custody.”

Apr. 2007 – When she went on trial in April, she admitted to four killings, and her lawyer argued that they were the lesser crime of manslaughter.

Jun. 29, 2007 – 54 year-old Irene Becker sentenced; been jailed for life for murdering five patients.

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[“Urteil im Charité-Prozess: Lebenslange Haft für Todes-Schwester,” Stern (Germany), Jun. 29, 2007]

[“German Nurse Sentenced to Life for Killing Patients,” DW (English) (Germany), Jun. 29, 2006]

[The Associated Press, “German Nurse Convicted of Murders,” The Washington Post (D.D.),  Jun. 29, 2007]

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For more cases, see Sicko Nurses

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Kelly Marie Cochran, Suspected Serial Killer, 2016, Indiana

Kelly Marie Cochran, 33, of Indiana is charged with two murders in two states. Investigation continues. In Crystal Falls, Michigan the Iron County prosecuting attorney, Melissa Powell, has filed court papers noting that other possible murders are to be investigated. Powell stated that Cochran has "claimed responsibility for the deaths of other individuals, which, if true, make her a serial killer." She is currently held in Michigan in the Iron County Jail on a $5 million cash bond, charged with six felonies, including murder.  She was captured in Kentucky and voluntarily extradited to Michigan to face charges. There she is charged with:

-Homicide, open murder for the death of Christopher Karl Regan
-Second-degree home invasion
-Conspiracy to commit dead bodies – disinterment & mutilation
-Concealing the death of an individual
-Lying to a police officer
-Accessory after the fact to a felony

Investigators believe that Corcoran, together with the husband, had plotted a staged “caught in the act” murder of her 53-old boyfriend, Christopher Regan. On October 13, 2014, she lured Regan with a promise of sex and Jason Cochran, 37, shot the man in the head with a .22 shotgun. Husband Jason, using an electric hand saw, cut up the body. They put the remains in trash bags and drove to the Iron River where in the woods they distributed the bags. Police recovered from the woods “a human skull with an apparent bullet hole, bones and bone fragments. Police also recovered a .22 caliber rifle, a .22 caliber bullet, and a pair of glasses.”

Following her April 18 arrest in Kentucky where she had fled, Cochran was “interrogated by both Michigan and Indiana police for almost 70 hours.” Cochran confessed to murdering her husband. She injected him with heroin and then choked him to death. He was dead in under 60 seconds. She told police "I still hate him (her husband), and yes, it was revenge. I evened the score,” referencing the earlier murder, which she apparently later regretted. She added that before Regen was killed she had considered dropping the plan and killing her husband instead.

Investigation may or not substantiate Ms. Cochran’s allusion to previous murders at her hand. One should note that Miranda Barbour of Pennsylvania, who committed a murder on November 11, 2013, made a grandiose confession to having previously murdered at least 22 others. But the claim, after investigation, was discredited.

[Robert St. Estephe]

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Kelly Marie Cochran, 33, “of Merrillville, Indiana.”

Earlier crimes – "claimed responsibility for the deaths of other individuals, which, if true, make her a serial killer."

Oct. 13, 2014 – Christopher Regan, 53, murdered with shotgun, dismembered, Iron River, Mi.

Feb. 20, 2016 – Jason Cochran, 37, murdered, Hobart, Indiana; “asphyxia due to strangulation that was complicated by heroin intoxication.” Found dead Feb. 20. “Cochran confessed to killing Jason Cochran, her husband of 13 years. Cochran told police she delivered an overdose of heroin to her husband on Feb. 20, and put her hands on his neck, nose and mouth. According to reports, Cochran told police he died less than a minute later.”

Mar. 15, 2015 – “When police searched her home with the FBI in March, 2015, they found nothing.”

Apr. 2016 – “According to the document, Cochran has an alleged prior mental health history, which includes a voluntary admission to a psychiatric facility in Indiana a month ago [in April, 2016].”

Apr. 26, 2016 – “According to the Post-Tribune, Cochran fled Northwest Indiana without telling family members on April 26, about nine weeks after her husband's death and around the time Michigan authorities charged her in Regan's death.”

Apr. 28, 2016 – arrested in Wingo, Kentucky, where she had fled from Hobart, Ind.

Apr. 29, 2016 – “Following her arrest in Kentucky, Cochran spoke with police on April 29 and provided details in the killing of Regan and directed them to recovery of evidence in the case.”

May 3, 2016 – Graves County Jail in Mayfield, Kentucky; Cochran signed extradition papers that will bring her from Mayfield, Graves County, Kentucky to Crystal Falls, Iron County, Michigan.

May 16, 2016 – arrived in Mi. on extradition; formally charged in Iron County, Mi. Pleased not guilty.

May 23, 2016 – “During a May 23 interview with Hobart Detective Jeremy Ogden, Cochran said she blamed her husband for taking "the only good thing I had in my life," court records state. "I still hate him (her husband), and yes, it was revenge. I evened the score," records quote her as saying.”

Aug. 12, 2016 – charged with murder of Jason Cochran. Superior Court of Lake County, Ind.

Sep. 13, 2016 – “Kelly Cochran is set to appear for a preliminary exam in Iron County on September 13th.”

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[Jerry DeRoche,“Cochran charged in husband’s death,” Iron County Reporter (Mi.), Aug. 17, 2016]

[“New details in murder case link suspect to possible serial killings,” ABC10 News (WBUP/WBKP – Marquette, Michigan), May 17, 2016]

[Melissa Locker, “Is This Indiana Woman a Serial Killer?” Rolling Stone, Aug. 17, 2016]

[“Kelly Cochran charged in husband's heroin death,” UPMatters.com, Aug. 15, 2016]

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Antonie Staskova, Serial Baby-Killer Mom – 2007, Czech Republic

Antonie Staskova is a chronic child abuser. Two of her sons died before they reached the age of one – Radek in 1989 and David in 1992. Though one of the boys had a broken rib and arm the official cause of death was given as accidental suffocation. After the brutal 2007 murder by stabbing of her 5-year-old son, Honzíka Rokos, the earlier investigations were reopened by the regional prosecutor’s office. Another abused child, Stašková, was removed from Antoine’s custody and raised by the girl’s grandmother,

• Parental kidnapping.

On May 27, 2007, the boy’s father, Roman Rokos, dropped of the child with the mother and her boyfriend, Paul Grepl. The trio then disappeared. The frantic father went through all the proper legal channels to get help in finding and retrieving his boy. In August police began searching for the missing boy. By December 5 an “extraordinary” search was launched. It was only four days later that his mother murdered him. It is believed she was motivated by hatred for the child’s father.

• Murder of Honzíka Rokos

It was a bizarre murder. Antonie was dominant and easily manipulated the emotionally dependant boyfriend, Paul Grepl. She told him she wanted to kidnap her son and kill him and herself. This was in May, seven months before the murder. Boyfriend was put to work to help Antonie in her project. Paul dutifully prepared by digging a grave in Moravia, then he dug another in Usti nad Labem, and then it seemed necessary to change locations and did yet another in the same town.

On December 7 they took the child to one of the prepared pits. According to Paul, whom the prosecutors believed, Antonine injected her son’s right forearm injection of air and then took her knife stabbed him twice. Then she began to suffocate him. They removed the boy, who despite the grotesque attacks was still alive. It is estimated that the boy, writing in excruciating pain, live two or three hours longer.

Paul Gepl, at trial, described a hellish scene. The mother down in the pit Paul had dug for the purpose, held the child, talking to him holding his hand while she stabbing him over a period of “tens of minutes.” He said to his torturer: “Mother do not worry, I will not die.” After a while she lifted the child from the intended grave and deposited him in the backseat of her car. The boy wailed and moaned that it hurts. Paul, ever helpful, clapped his hand to his mouth to keep him quiet.

The prosecutor described Atonine and Paul’s conduct as a display of utter cynicism and disrespect for life. “They sat in their car while behind them the child died. He wailed and moaned, and although now she claims to love him, no one did nothing to save him,” she said.

It was a routine random police check of parked cars that led to the discovery of the murder. The boy was dead when they found him.

• Trial

At the trial Antonine denied she did the deed. She admitted only that boys inserted the syringe with air into the boy’s arm, claiming she did not hit a vein.

Antonie Stašková and Paul Grepl sat quietly throughout the trial. Grepl stared into the country and Stašková bit her lip.

The pair blamed the boy’s father for their crime, harboring the belief that he would have kept the mother from her child. Paul claimed he loved the boy as his own son.

On August 11, 2008 Antonie Stašková maintained her innocence, yet  was convicted of murder and sentenced to 24 years in prison.  Pavel Grepl pleaded guilty to suffocation and received a sentence of 20 years.

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Antonie Stašková, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

Stašková – daughter survived, in custody of grandmother, Sonya Gubišová.

Roman Rokos – father of Honzíka Rokos, 5.

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1989 – Radek (younger than 12 mo), choked. Suspected murder.

1992 – David (younger than 12 mo), choked. Suspected murder. One of the two boys had a brokemn arm.

May 25, 2007 – parental kidnapping; Roman Rokos handed a five-year son’s wife that he should have for the weekend. Since then he is seen him.

Jun. 4, 2007 – The court issued a preliminary injunction according to which Jan Rokos should be entrusted to the care of his father.
Jul. 22, 2007 – Roman Rokos visited the police in Kynzvart and demanded his son, who was, according to his information the mother.
Jul. 23, 2007 – Antonie Stašková his son visited Kynžvart police claiming they no longer hadf the boy.
Aug. 2007 – Police launched a search after Jan Rokos.

Dec. 9, 2007 – Honzíka Rokos (or, Jan Rokos), 5; murdered by Antonie Stašková and Pavel Grepl. His body was buried, but later [returned to him?].
Dec. 28, 2007 - Police officers found when checking Antonie Staškova and Paul Grepl in Czech goldsmiths in the Most car body of a murdered child. Body found in Zlatníky.
Dec. 29, 2007 - Police have accused Antonie Staškova and Paul Grepl murder.

Aug. 11, 2008 – Antonie Stašková Sentenced to 24 years, Grepl sentenced to 20 years. Pavel Grepl pleaded guilty to suffocation.

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[“Policie vyšetří i smrt dalších dětí vražedkyně,” (“Police investigate death of other children murderess”), Týden.cz, Jan. 2, 2008]

[Ian Willoughby, “Woman charged with murder of child suspected of previous killing of other two sons, Rasdio Praha (English), Jan. 3, 2008]

[Rudolf Prchal, “Pětiletého Jana Rokose jsem zadusil, aby netrpěl, řekl u soudu Grepl,” (I choked Five-year-old Jan Rokos to stop his suffering, said Grepl in court”), Novinsky.cz, Aug. 11, 2008]

[Jitka Hrušková, “Vražedkyně, která zabila své dítě, sedí v opavské věznici.” (“Murderess who killed her child sitting in Opava Prison”), Denikcz, Feb. 17, 2009]

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms.

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Aino Nykopp-Koski, Serial Killer Nurse – Finland, 2009

Finnish Wikipedia (loose translation): Aino Annikki Gretel Nykopp-Koski (b. 1950 ) is a Finnish serial killer nurse who assaulted, attempted to murder and murdered murdered a number of her patients in 2004-2009. Previous to her arrest for the series murders and other crimes, Nykopp-Koski had been convicted of theft of drugs and the property of her patients. The crimes took place in hospitals, care centers and in the patients own homes.

Police began investigating Nykopp in March 2009 after the one of her patients, a 80-year-old woman, was nearly killed by poisoned yogurt. She was saved by doctors at The victim of an old woman were rescued Mary's Hospital (Marian sairaalassa). Investigation of this poisoning led police to evidence of a long series of similar poisonings of patients under Nykopp’s care. Nykopp denied responsibility for the poisonings which in a number of cases resulted in death. She tried to attribute the deaths to the patients’ having mistakenly, or deliberately, overdosed themselves but police did not accept her story and placed her under arrest. An extensive investigation resulted in multiple charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, theft and drug violations.

On May 14, 2010 Nykopp was found guilty by The Helsinki District Court of five murders, six attempted murders and two counts of aggravated assault. The court ordered a psychological examination in order to make a proper sentence decision. “Psychiatric examinations concluded in November the nurse fully understood the consequences of her actions even though she suffered from [an antisocial] personality disorder, and could thus be deemed responsible for the murders.” On December 22, 2010, Helsinki District Court sentenced her to life imprisonment. Nykopp appealed in 20011 and on March  29, 2012 the Helsinki Court of Appeal upheld the rulings.

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List of crimes:

Jun. 22, 2004 – woman, 81, murdered.

Jun. 5, 2005 – man, 70, murdered.

Jun. 23, 2005 – aggravated assault; poisoned a colleague’s coffee.

Feb. 2006 – attempted murder, drugged woman, 91; possessions stolen. City of Helsinki. Agency: Care Services Chickweed Oy.

Oct. 26, 2006 – aggravated assault, drugged woman, 83. Home care; VKTL Services Ltd.

Oct. 27, 2006 – attempted murder, drugged man, 85. Home care; VKTL Services Ltd.

Nov. 22, 2006 – attempted murder, drugged woman, 83; VKTL Services Ltd.

Oct. 2007 – attempted murder, woman, 75; VKTL Services Ltd

Mar. 8, 2008 – murder, woman, 90 [poisoning began Feb. 25]; property stolen.

Aug. 31, 2008 – attempted murder, 77-year-old woman; possessions stolen.

Feb. 13, 2009 – woman, 77, murdered; lid Koti Helsinki Foundation for Seniors.

Mar. 2009 – attempted murder; woman, 80. “the nurse had prepared jugurttiannoksen [yogurt], mixed with a variety of life-threatening drugs.”

List based on source: [Rikos Julkaistu, “Näihin myrkytyksiin perushoitaja katsottiin syylliseksi,” (“Nurse found guilty of these poisonings”), MTV Internet (Finland), May 14, 2010]

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[“Finnish nurse gets life for murdering five patients,” The Telegraph (London, England), Dec. 22, 2010]

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For more cases, see Sicko Nurses

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