ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 2005
Page Count: 5

The Application of Pancuronium Bromide (Pavulon) Forensic Analyses to Tissue Samples from an “Angel of Death” Investigtion
Alcaraz, AM
Forensic Science Center, Livermore National Laboratory, CA.

Andresen, BD
Forensic Science Center, Livermore National Laboratory, CA.

Grant, PM
Forensic Science Center, Livermore National Laboratory, CA.

(Received 25 January 2003; accepted 31 July 2004)

Abstract

The case report of a serial killer who worked at several hospitals as a respiratory therapist is presented. The suspect was initially labeled a benevolent Angel of Death who ended the suffering of elderly patients through mercy killing. However, his subsequently declared motive for homicide was very different from other similar cases in medical settings. The application of new analysis techniques for the detection of pancuronium bromide in a series of aged exhumation tissues gave positive results and led to the resultant conviction of the therapist.

Keywords:
forensic science, aged exhumation tissues, pancuronium bromide (Pavulon), GC/MS, solid-phase extraction (SPE), liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC-ES-MS/MS), Angel of Death

Paper ID: JFS2003353
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003353
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