Convicted of murder as a teen and now a nurse

[TheGooch]

I know of someone who was convicted of murder as a teen. I won't go into details because the case is somewhat famous due to the fact there was a made-for-tv movie. The person in question did their time and is now in their 40's and is a RN. They legally changed their name but because some website had this information posted the new name has been discovered.

My question is how does someone who has a murder conviction become an RN. I know that the person was tried as a juvenile and sentenced as one but don't they have to disclose this information to the BON?

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

I worked with a murderer. He served his time and worked hard to get back into the medical field. He made a mistake, he paid his debt to society, 15 years in prison. He acknowledged his debt to the survivors of his victim could never be paid. He was a great coworker and a good Emt. I would let him take care of me, or any of my family. One days mistake, lack of judgement, and burst of anger cost him 15 years of his life. Who am I to tell him he didn't miss enough time, when the justice system says he did. I don't understand this sediment that she can never be punished enough for her crime. It's very two dimensional thinking.

[Red Kryptonite]

I knew a cop who beat the tar out of a guy who hit his sister. He wasn't defending her or himself. He found out it had happened, laid in wait, and jumped the guy. He was dismissed from the police department and charged with a crime. He pled the crime down, but the police department never hired him back.

One burst of anger, one day's poor judgement, cost him his police career forever. And that's as it should be. Everyone deserves second chances, but some kinds of opportunities should be off limits after certain offenses.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

I worked with an internal medicine MD, an older man, whose behavior was very strange although he tried to present a persona of being from academia. He stalked a former girlfiend and threatened her until she feared for her life and reported it all to the police. He was arrested and fingerprints revealed his true identity and that he had been in prison and served 15 years for first degree murder. He had completed parole and went to medical school under an assumed name.

I agree with RK, careers in healthcare should be totally off limits to people who are capable of certain offenses.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Ummmm some of you people are ridiculous. You'd really trust a murderer with your LIFE? I guess when people think like that, anything is possible. If they were impulsive enough to act upon an emotion and to go beyond hurting or getting even, to actually kill another person, I wouldn't put it pass them to do it again. It's the same as trusting a cheater or a liar, but worse, because you know, they're a murderer.

[annulo]

I feel like we will never know the whole picture, which is why I am not completely against her being a nurse from an outsider standpoint. In order for a person to commit murder, they must have been extremely tormented and troubled on the inside, and we will never know why. Whether it's their upbringing, bullying that occurred, or other triggering experiences we might never know about...people oftentimes cannot choose the environment they are surrounded by, and this can heavily affect them, which unfortunately can lead to acts of aggression such as murder. I strongly believe that we are products of our environment. I was so fortunate to be raised by a loving family, surrounded by loving friends, but how about those who grew up in fear, have a history of mental illness, or who have experienced previous trauma? I don't think people are born bad, and if she was in a better environment, perhaps this murder would not have happened. We would never know, though.

With that being said, if I were related to the person who was murdered, I would be furious that this woman got to live her life. At the same time, if she is a licensed, working nurse right now, she may be making a difference in the lives of many on a daily basis. This may not be enough retribution for what she did, but she ended up pursuing a profession that gives back to society, and I don't think I can ever blatantly hate on a fellow nurse, who dedicated her life to healing others.

[Red Kryptonite]

At the same time, if she is a licensed, working nurse right now, she may be making a difference in the lives of many on a daily basis. This may not be enough retribution for what she did, but she ended up pursuing a profession that gives back to society, and I don't think I can ever blatantly hate on a fellow nurse, who dedicated her life to healing others.

Or maybe she kills patients who make her feel inadequate. She's in a position where people die around her, probably, with some frequency, so it would be easy to hide. How many nurses have we heard of who murder their patients?

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Am I the only one who finds this whole thread increasingly creepy?

it started out with, I can't reveal the details, to everyone being able to easily figure out who it is.

Its really interesting to note that at least 2 totally different women have been "identified" on the Internet as the person in question.

i wish everyone would just let it go before some innocent person ends up being publicly named here as the "murderer."

[annulo]

This is definitely a possibility, alongside my previous statement.

[AdamantiteEnigma]

You can surmise no such thing. Perhaps that's where your mind went, but that thought never crossed my mind.

You can however surmise:

1) Because she was fifteen years old at the time the crime was committed ...... and

2) Neither you nor I are privy to all the facts of the case.

How do you know it was in cold blood? I take "cold blood" to mean intentional, calculated and without feeling/emotion. I don't think we know enough to decide if that indeed was the case. The judge who ruled on the case evidently wasn't convinced that the crime was premeditated.

Courts of law already recognize that there is a difference between juvenile and adult offenders. The sentencing often reflects that.

I'm not sure why you think I'm defending a killer. I said that she committed a crime and that punishment should follow that crime.

I've interrogated many murderers and violent offenders (young and old). I've met many victims of violent crimes, as well as victim's loved ones. I've testified at many trials. I've read the results of court mandated psychiatric evaluations of violent offenders. I don't think that you should punish children and adolescents the same way as you would an adult. And also, all cases are different. I've done this for long enough to know not to form definitive opinions without all the facts available to me.

The facts are a matter of public record. I spend a great deal of time this am reading them. And it was in fact cold blood. She even chased down her victim to finish the act after she tried to escape during the initial attack.

Violent offenders have absolutely no place in healthcare. That includes teenage murders.

[klone, MSN, RN]

How would you guys on the forgiveness/paid her debt side feel about a 15 yr old boy stabbing a girl to death and then going on to be a cop? Or your kid's teacher?

If he's now in his 40s, has had no other crimes or violent offenses, has made himself into a productive member of society and has rehabilitated himself, then I would be okay with it.

I'm curious....for those of you who think she should still be in prison, or should be 'outed' or whatever....how many of you are Christian? Just curious. No need to answer. Just something to think about.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I knew a cop who beat the tar out of a guy who hit his sister. He wasn't defending her or himself. He found out it had happened, laid in wait, and jumped the guy. He was dismissed from the police department and charged with a crime. He pled the crime down, but the police department never hired him back. .

The difference between these two scenarios is his crime was premeditated, he was an adult at the time, and he was already a cop when it happened.

The OP's situation was heat of the moment per the court ruling, she was 15, and has had no other crimes or acts of violence in the subsequent 20-30 years before she became a nurse.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Like Mr. Chicago, I'm pretty appalled at the tone of this thread in general. I think a lot of people don't realize how VERY VERY PUBLIC this website is. It's quite likely that, as a result of this thread, this woman's coworkers have now realized who she is and are trying to have her fired.

This thread may have just ruined the lives of an entire family. Possibly more than one family, if the wrong person is fingered. It's the very definition of a witch hunt.