Episode 484: The Lainz Angels of Death

The Lainz Angels of Death were four Austrian nurse’s aides—Waltraud Wagner, Maria Gruber, Irene Leidolf, and Stephanija Meyer—who worked at Lainz General Hospital in the 1980s. From 1983-1989 they killed at least 15 patients while pretending to care for them. Their methods later included forcing water into patients’ lungs or overdosing them on medications to make their deaths look natural. In 1991 their reign of terror came to an end and all 4 women were sent to prison. While they maintained that the murders were mercy killings, many believe these women were sick and evil. The Lainz Angels of Death case remains a chilling example of medical murder and failures in oversight.

Sources for this episode:

https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/18/world/killing-of-49-patients-by-4-nurse-s-aides-stuns-the-austrians.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/austrias-angels-of-death-to-be-released/

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25722717

https://vocal.media/criminal/the-lainz-angels-of-death

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/angels-death-nurses-murdered-up-36353400

http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/angels/female_nurses/6.html