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Killer Nurse: The Harrowing True Story of One Woman's Murder Spree in an East Texas Town
She was hired to nurse them back to health...instead, she took their lives.
For months, the DaVita Dialysis Center in Lufkin, Texas had been baffled by the rising number of deaths and injuries occurring in their clinic. In April alone, they’d rushed thirty-four patients to the hospital. But no one expected such a horrific cause to be behind it all.
Kimberly Clark Saenz was a well-liked licensed vocational nurse at the center. The East Texas nurse was a mother of two, and known for her smiles and the stories she told to help patients pass the time. But on April 28, 2008, witnesses came forward to say that instead of lifesaving medication, they’d seen Saenz adding toxic bleach to IV ports. Turns out, it wasn’t the first time. Once caught, the shocking story of Saenz’s murderous practices began to unravel…
INCLUDES PHOTOS
For months, the DaVita Dialysis Center in Lufkin, Texas had been baffled by the rising number of deaths and injuries occurring in their clinic. In April alone, they’d rushed thirty-four patients to the hospital. But no one expected such a horrific cause to be behind it all.
Kimberly Clark Saenz was a well-liked licensed vocational nurse at the center. The East Texas nurse was a mother of two, and known for her smiles and the stories she told to help patients pass the time. But on April 28, 2008, witnesses came forward to say that instead of lifesaving medication, they’d seen Saenz adding toxic bleach to IV ports. Turns out, it wasn’t the first time. Once caught, the shocking story of Saenz’s murderous practices began to unravel…
INCLUDES PHOTOS
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2013
50 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
About the author
John Foxjohn
17 books30 followersThe Pineywoods of East Texas have produced many things, including award winning and best-selling author John Foxjohn. A country boy at heart, Foxjohn often says, “I was born and raised so far back in the woods that they had to pump sunshine to us.” With little to do but hunt and fish, Foxjohn’s environment created an atmosphere that fostered imagination and dreams, something that Foxjohn would excel at.
At the tender age of seventeen, he quit high school and joined the army. Foxjohn’s six years would see him graduate from jump school, Ranger school, and become the youngest sergeant in peacetime army. A tour of Viet Nam and Germany highlighted an extremely successful stint for Foxjohn. After an honorable discharge, Foxjohn followed that up with ten years in law enforcement, including a long tour as a homicide detective. Fulfilling a promise to his dying mother, Foxjohn graduated from college and began a new adventure of teaching and coaching football.
Foxjohn had another of his childhood dreams left to accomplish. When he was twelve, he read a book about Crazy Horse. He said then that one day he would write a book about the fabled Lakota war chief. After retiring, Foxjohn became a writer, and the first book he wrote was an historical fiction titled The People’s Warrior: a book about Crazy Horse.
Now considered one of the rising stars in publishing, Foxjohn has published in six different genres, and readers worldwide clamor for his books. And yes, Foxjohn says he’s still dreaming.
At the tender age of seventeen, he quit high school and joined the army. Foxjohn’s six years would see him graduate from jump school, Ranger school, and become the youngest sergeant in peacetime army. A tour of Viet Nam and Germany highlighted an extremely successful stint for Foxjohn. After an honorable discharge, Foxjohn followed that up with ten years in law enforcement, including a long tour as a homicide detective. Fulfilling a promise to his dying mother, Foxjohn graduated from college and began a new adventure of teaching and coaching football.
Foxjohn had another of his childhood dreams left to accomplish. When he was twelve, he read a book about Crazy Horse. He said then that one day he would write a book about the fabled Lakota war chief. After retiring, Foxjohn became a writer, and the first book he wrote was an historical fiction titled The People’s Warrior: a book about Crazy Horse.
Now considered one of the rising stars in publishing, Foxjohn has published in six different genres, and readers worldwide clamor for his books. And yes, Foxjohn says he’s still dreaming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 1, 2017
This book is misnamed. It should be called, "The Trial of Kimberly Clark Saenz" as that, apart from the preamble of who Saenz was and exactly what she did and how she was caught, is most of the book. It was quite well written, very captivating, although the author had it in for the Defence from the beginning. That was a bit of a shame, as a little less bias might have made it a more complelling book.
What I especially liked about it was the details of how the jury came to their decisions on each of the charges and why two of the charges she was found not guilty on (although they found her guilty on three identical charges).
Where the book frustrates is that we never find out why Saenz killed these people, elderly dialysis patients. She gained nothing, she was was a popular member of her Church and although perhaps not the nicest of people, not anyone that would be suspected of being a killer, let alone a serial killer. All we know is that she expected to be cleared of all charges. Probably the author didn't know why she did it, but it doesn't seem any great efforts were made to find out either.
Contrast this book with the book of another serial killer nurse, but a much worse one (can there be anything worse than taking a life? Is taking two lives worse? 400? Is not the family of a single murdered person in just as bad a state as 400 families?) The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder. This is the story of Charlie Cullen's evil career as a mass murderer and the hospitals and nursing agencies that let him get away with it because, at root, medicine in the States is a for-profit business first and foremost, looking after the interests of patients isn't of such prime concern. However, in Killer Nurse the medical facility, the DaVita Dialysis Center, made every effort to find out why so many patients died.
Charlie Cullen said he murdered people to save them from suffering and from agonising deaths. He lied. Not all the people he killed were terminal. Saenz never gives a reason, truth or otherwise for the murders she committed. That's very unsatifying. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
What I especially liked about it was the details of how the jury came to their decisions on each of the charges and why two of the charges she was found not guilty on (although they found her guilty on three identical charges).
Where the book frustrates is that we never find out why Saenz killed these people, elderly dialysis patients. She gained nothing, she was was a popular member of her Church and although perhaps not the nicest of people, not anyone that would be suspected of being a killer, let alone a serial killer. All we know is that she expected to be cleared of all charges. Probably the author didn't know why she did it, but it doesn't seem any great efforts were made to find out either.
Contrast this book with the book of another serial killer nurse, but a much worse one (can there be anything worse than taking a life? Is taking two lives worse? 400? Is not the family of a single murdered person in just as bad a state as 400 families?) The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder. This is the story of Charlie Cullen's evil career as a mass murderer and the hospitals and nursing agencies that let him get away with it because, at root, medicine in the States is a for-profit business first and foremost, looking after the interests of patients isn't of such prime concern. However, in Killer Nurse the medical facility, the DaVita Dialysis Center, made every effort to find out why so many patients died.
Charlie Cullen said he murdered people to save them from suffering and from agonising deaths. He lied. Not all the people he killed were terminal. Saenz never gives a reason, truth or otherwise for the murders she committed. That's very unsatifying. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
April 19, 2014
People undergoing dialysis are generally in poor health and have a shortened life span, so it was not unusual for DaVita Dialysis Center patients to have to be rushed to the hospital, in the clinic in Lufkin, Texas however, the number was unprecedented and considered too high. The parent company sent investigators, everything was checked, and checked out. Everything but the employees. Then one day two patients reported seeing a nurse inject bleach into the IV ports of two patients. It was unbelievable, but true.
Of the 34 patients rushed to hospital in April 2008, 5 died. All were found to have been injected with bleach, the only known case of a serial killer using bleach to kill.
Kimberly Clark Saenz was a LVN at the center. Fellow employees reported her odd behavior during emergencies, she appeared to not want to help. Then two patients stated they had seen her inject bleach into the IV ports.
We get some biographical information about Ms. Saenz, but most of the book is about the victims, the crimes and the trial. Even though he gives a very detailed account of the trial, it not word for word transcript and he keeps it interesting, explaining the complexities of Texas law as he goes along. If you like books heavy on the trial and light on the personal information, I recommend this book.
Of the 34 patients rushed to hospital in April 2008, 5 died. All were found to have been injected with bleach, the only known case of a serial killer using bleach to kill.
Kimberly Clark Saenz was a LVN at the center. Fellow employees reported her odd behavior during emergencies, she appeared to not want to help. Then two patients stated they had seen her inject bleach into the IV ports.
We get some biographical information about Ms. Saenz, but most of the book is about the victims, the crimes and the trial. Even though he gives a very detailed account of the trial, it not word for word transcript and he keeps it interesting, explaining the complexities of Texas law as he goes along. If you like books heavy on the trial and light on the personal information, I recommend this book.
April 24, 2014
John Foxjohn’s true crime story about such a nurse is riveting. He goes into great detail about all the facts and how the crimes were discovered. Possibly over thirty attacks were made on residents at the Lufkin, Texas, DaVita Dialysis Center. Two were witnessed, and this led to the arrest of Kimberly Clark Saenz, an LVN at the center who was apparently upset about a change of assignment that day. Although we never learn from the killer what her true motivation was for these murders, Foxjohn ties together events to give the reader a probable cause.
I highly recommend this one.
I highly recommend this one.
May 16, 2014
Before I read Killer Nurse I was well aware of this author. He is one of the most gifted author of mysteries and romantic suspense novels. This is his first non-fiction book and it reads like a novel. This remarkable story from his own hometown is enough to give you chills. Thoroughly researched and documented, you'll be glued to your reader till you finish it. This is without a doubt the best book I have read in a long long time.
March 20, 2014
This is the best book I have ever read. The author impressed me with the way he could described details using just a few sentences. Leading into a paragraph I would think oh no this is going to get very wordy but that didn't happen and the information came through clearly.
May 19, 2018
I Love reading true crime books and this one did not diassapoint. This book is about a nurse who was found guilty of poisoning patients with bleach. I enjoyed reading the book although I wish it would of had a picture of the woman in the book. Read this in about a day so perfect for someone who loves these kind of books.
February 16, 2024
Well written true crime, but so creepy and diabolical!!
February 23, 2021
This book is about Kimberly Clark Saenz, a nurse at a dialysis clinic, who injected bleach into patients. One always thinks that the people who are in the healthcare field are in it because they love the work, the patients, and helping people. Kimberly here was clearly not one of those types. I thought the author did a good job of presenting the case and keeping it entertaining. I ordered a couple of books of this nature after watching a show about nurses who kill, and Kimberly was featured on the show. I do not understand how she could do these things to people who are already sick in some form. It's cruel and unnecessary. I highly recommend this book, but maybe not if you are a dialysis patient.
January 9, 2016
As a nurse, the idea of a nurse who kills or harms her patients is horrific. I had never heard of anyone being injected with bleach prior to reading this book. It describes Saenz's crimes and the trial that followed. Well written and interesting. I enjoy both medical and murder books and this one is clearly both.
February 19, 2014
Killer Nurse: John Foxjohn
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County in Texas and was founded in 1882. The population in 2010 was just over 35 thousand. Lufkin is the county seat of Angelina County and located in Deep East Texas. Abraham P. Lufkin is the man it was named after a cotton merchant. Lufkin was also a city councilman in Galveston. Paul Bremond was married to Lufkin’s daughter and was president of the Houston, East/West Texas Railway. Lufkin celebrated its 125 anniversary in 2007.
Within the town of Lufkin a serial killer lurks. Imagine going to a dialysis center feeling relatively okay, alert and for the most part able to deal with the treatment and coming out with heart problems, blood pressure so low that you wind up in a coma, near death or die. What happens when a health care provider or nurse decides who should live or die just because she dislikes you or just because she hates the word patient? Author and former homicide detective John Foxjohn brings to light in his true crime novel, Killer Nurse what happens when a licensed vocational nurse at the Davita Dialysis Center decides to take the lives of innocent patients. Kimberly Clark Saenz a vocational nurse presents and image that is not only bone chilling, blood curdling but so terrifying that many patients would hesitate before ever going to one of these dialysis centers anywhere in the country. A retired police detective from Lufkin, John Foxjohn, relates in this novel the journey of the prosecution, defense, judge and jury as they relate in their own words the events that led up to the trial of what they might refer to of the century in this small town.
Kimberly Clark Saenz is a serial killer in every sense of the word. As the author relates what happens at this dialysis center we hear the voices of many workers, patients that managed to survive, family members and silent cries of those that did not survive. Implicated in the deaths of many of the patients in this center she never thought she would be convicted. Her cavalier attitude and the arrogance of her defense attorney Ryan Deacon only prove that she did not care about the charges, nor about the people she was supposed to take care of and many times as the story unfolds refused to help those in trouble or in need of help. In 2008 she was only 34 and a licensed practical nurse that disliked working with patients. Substance abuse dependence was just one of her problems and stealing Demerol from one of the facilities she worked in another. Wanting to only work as a med nurse should have been a red flag as her dependence on drugs would definitely profit she had access to the meds in the facilities she worked in. Fired for stealing the drugs and fired from at least four or five more health care jobs, she was able to forge ahead unscathed as her nursing license was free of any violations and she listed mis/disinformation on her applications for jobs. Even though she was arrested and out on bail she was told not to seek any jobs in health care but she was conniving and managed to circumvent the law. The author relates the facts of this trial in such detail that readers will be able to understand criminal procedures, how the jury is picked, the cause of death, the meanings of direct and circumstantial evidence and the fact the she took syringes and injected bleach into the IV’s of several dialysis patients causing their deaths from bleach poisoning. The frightening part is that she did not hesitate to commit murder, show any feelings or remorse nor any compassion for her victims. With a trial that took over four years to come to pass the prosecution team led by Clyde Herrington and the defense by Ryan Deacon presented evidence, witnesses and video taped depositions that will bring tears to the eyes of readers and strong doubt as to the management, health care and proper medical care administered within this Davita Dialysis in Lufkin.
Imagine coming into the facility getting hooked up to the machine and finding that the person that is supposed to care for you has another agenda. No one thought anything about the bleach buckets and whether they had been wrongly placed on the floor. No one thought that anyone would use a syringe instead of a cup to pour the bleach and why would anyone inject Saline in an IV when there was a full bag of saline already there. During their treatment Linda Hall and Leraline Hamilton, two eyewitnesses stated that on April 28, 2008 that Kimberly Saenz drew sodium hypochlorite, bleach, into syringes and injected the deadly substance into two patients’ dialysis lines at the clinic owned by DaVita Lufkin. With the help and foresight of the investigative officers beginning with Sergeant Steven Abbot and his team Sergeant Mike Shurley they were able to slowly piece together what happened. Staffing issues, operational problems, failure to monitor care provided for patients were just the tip of the iceberg of violations uncovered about this facility. Possible causes of deaths, death trends were never documented from September 2007- April 2008. But the DSHS gave DaVita ten days to comply to their charges as they were require to close their doors until the violations were fixed. The author elaborates on page 136 the procedures required, the staff that had to be implemented and the fact they would have to undergo what the state referred to as a “Safety Net program.” But, just because they complied does not mean that they were any better than before and many of their patients did not want to return out of fear. The author includes pictures of the defense team the defendant and Team Justice as they called themselves. Allowing readers to see the faces of Clyde Herrington the Prosecutor, Defense and death penalty expert attorney Steve Taylor, Ryan Deacon the Defense attorney, Chris Tortorice and Layne Thompson brings the story to life added in the faces of the amazing jury that handed down the right verdict.
Every step of the way the author relates the history of each patient that entered the facility, those that escaped death, those that did not. He gives readers the background on each lawyer, their experience, their schooling and even introduces information about the presiding judge allowing each one of us to feel part of the jury process and relive it along with the author, those involved and the judge.
Kimberly Saenz injected two patients right in front of two eyewitnesses with bleach. Several interesting witnesses were Cheryl Pettry the mitigation specialist brought in by Steve Taylor on the defense team. Added in we learn about the punishment phase if the defendant is found guilty. For anyone going into law and wanting to learn more about the criminal justice system this book is a great resource. Pettry’s assessment of the defendant is quite compelling as you hear her thoughts on page 171.
Herrington’s job was to educate the jurors and make sure that they understood what was required of them. He did not have to prove motive to convict her. This is one point that was never really made clear as to why she did it. Speculation at the end and in the Postscript would clarify the thoughts that many have on why she went on a killing spree. Defining circumstantial and direct evidence and giving examples was crucial to the prosecution’s case as he clearly defines both and provides concrete examples for the jurors and readers to understand. Pages 185-187 outline both. Hear the voices of the patients involved, listen to the family’s that testified and watch as the defendant’s demeanor and attitude do not mirror that of someone facing a possible capital murder charge and the death penalty. Did she do it as an angel of mercy? I doubt that. Did she do it because she had marital problems and took out her anger on the patients? Did she hate the people she was supposed to care for? Did she pick and choose? From the director of the facility to the many nurses, the patients, the employees, the medical experts and the expert witnesses this novel does not have an ordinary plot filled with characters that the author can bring back again and again. The characters are real. The story really happened. The names of those involved have not been changed and the end result and final verdict you need to read for yourself to understand what happens when a smug defense lawyer does not prepare his case as a professional, misrepresents the evidence and thinks beyond a shadow of doubt that his client will be found not guilty. With the help of the FDA who prepared a document that stated that the samples they received were tested positive for bleach while some did not. Fifty-one samples labeled with the numbers from 1-51 were sent to be tested to the FDA and CDC. The end result is shocking.
Added in Mark Kevin Saenz filed for divorce, had a restraining order against her. Woodland Heights Hospital could have started the ball rolling a lot faster had they made sure her nursing license was suspended. Firing her from her position did not stop her from getting other jobs in the field. She even worked as a receptionist in Lufkin medical office. The end result will shock you as the prosecutor believed and still does that there were more than ten victims.
The most compelling part was when at the end when the Victim Impact Statement portion of the trial takes place and the victim’s families addressed Saenz. Her sentence was pronounced on March 31, 2012 in Texas District Court. To find out if she received the death penalty and the sentence you need to read Killer Nurse.
A story so frightening and a killer so deadly you truly hope that the appeals process denies her the freedom she thinks she deserves.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
This review is dedicated to the families of those that lost their lives, those that survived and the voices of those that were never heard. This is dedicated to Team Justice and to all those that fought hard to see justice done and to those 12 jurors and 3 alternates.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County in Texas and was founded in 1882. The population in 2010 was just over 35 thousand. Lufkin is the county seat of Angelina County and located in Deep East Texas. Abraham P. Lufkin is the man it was named after a cotton merchant. Lufkin was also a city councilman in Galveston. Paul Bremond was married to Lufkin’s daughter and was president of the Houston, East/West Texas Railway. Lufkin celebrated its 125 anniversary in 2007.
Within the town of Lufkin a serial killer lurks. Imagine going to a dialysis center feeling relatively okay, alert and for the most part able to deal with the treatment and coming out with heart problems, blood pressure so low that you wind up in a coma, near death or die. What happens when a health care provider or nurse decides who should live or die just because she dislikes you or just because she hates the word patient? Author and former homicide detective John Foxjohn brings to light in his true crime novel, Killer Nurse what happens when a licensed vocational nurse at the Davita Dialysis Center decides to take the lives of innocent patients. Kimberly Clark Saenz a vocational nurse presents and image that is not only bone chilling, blood curdling but so terrifying that many patients would hesitate before ever going to one of these dialysis centers anywhere in the country. A retired police detective from Lufkin, John Foxjohn, relates in this novel the journey of the prosecution, defense, judge and jury as they relate in their own words the events that led up to the trial of what they might refer to of the century in this small town.
Kimberly Clark Saenz is a serial killer in every sense of the word. As the author relates what happens at this dialysis center we hear the voices of many workers, patients that managed to survive, family members and silent cries of those that did not survive. Implicated in the deaths of many of the patients in this center she never thought she would be convicted. Her cavalier attitude and the arrogance of her defense attorney Ryan Deacon only prove that she did not care about the charges, nor about the people she was supposed to take care of and many times as the story unfolds refused to help those in trouble or in need of help. In 2008 she was only 34 and a licensed practical nurse that disliked working with patients. Substance abuse dependence was just one of her problems and stealing Demerol from one of the facilities she worked in another. Wanting to only work as a med nurse should have been a red flag as her dependence on drugs would definitely profit she had access to the meds in the facilities she worked in. Fired for stealing the drugs and fired from at least four or five more health care jobs, she was able to forge ahead unscathed as her nursing license was free of any violations and she listed mis/disinformation on her applications for jobs. Even though she was arrested and out on bail she was told not to seek any jobs in health care but she was conniving and managed to circumvent the law. The author relates the facts of this trial in such detail that readers will be able to understand criminal procedures, how the jury is picked, the cause of death, the meanings of direct and circumstantial evidence and the fact the she took syringes and injected bleach into the IV’s of several dialysis patients causing their deaths from bleach poisoning. The frightening part is that she did not hesitate to commit murder, show any feelings or remorse nor any compassion for her victims. With a trial that took over four years to come to pass the prosecution team led by Clyde Herrington and the defense by Ryan Deacon presented evidence, witnesses and video taped depositions that will bring tears to the eyes of readers and strong doubt as to the management, health care and proper medical care administered within this Davita Dialysis in Lufkin.
Imagine coming into the facility getting hooked up to the machine and finding that the person that is supposed to care for you has another agenda. No one thought anything about the bleach buckets and whether they had been wrongly placed on the floor. No one thought that anyone would use a syringe instead of a cup to pour the bleach and why would anyone inject Saline in an IV when there was a full bag of saline already there. During their treatment Linda Hall and Leraline Hamilton, two eyewitnesses stated that on April 28, 2008 that Kimberly Saenz drew sodium hypochlorite, bleach, into syringes and injected the deadly substance into two patients’ dialysis lines at the clinic owned by DaVita Lufkin. With the help and foresight of the investigative officers beginning with Sergeant Steven Abbot and his team Sergeant Mike Shurley they were able to slowly piece together what happened. Staffing issues, operational problems, failure to monitor care provided for patients were just the tip of the iceberg of violations uncovered about this facility. Possible causes of deaths, death trends were never documented from September 2007- April 2008. But the DSHS gave DaVita ten days to comply to their charges as they were require to close their doors until the violations were fixed. The author elaborates on page 136 the procedures required, the staff that had to be implemented and the fact they would have to undergo what the state referred to as a “Safety Net program.” But, just because they complied does not mean that they were any better than before and many of their patients did not want to return out of fear. The author includes pictures of the defense team the defendant and Team Justice as they called themselves. Allowing readers to see the faces of Clyde Herrington the Prosecutor, Defense and death penalty expert attorney Steve Taylor, Ryan Deacon the Defense attorney, Chris Tortorice and Layne Thompson brings the story to life added in the faces of the amazing jury that handed down the right verdict.
Every step of the way the author relates the history of each patient that entered the facility, those that escaped death, those that did not. He gives readers the background on each lawyer, their experience, their schooling and even introduces information about the presiding judge allowing each one of us to feel part of the jury process and relive it along with the author, those involved and the judge.
Kimberly Saenz injected two patients right in front of two eyewitnesses with bleach. Several interesting witnesses were Cheryl Pettry the mitigation specialist brought in by Steve Taylor on the defense team. Added in we learn about the punishment phase if the defendant is found guilty. For anyone going into law and wanting to learn more about the criminal justice system this book is a great resource. Pettry’s assessment of the defendant is quite compelling as you hear her thoughts on page 171.
Herrington’s job was to educate the jurors and make sure that they understood what was required of them. He did not have to prove motive to convict her. This is one point that was never really made clear as to why she did it. Speculation at the end and in the Postscript would clarify the thoughts that many have on why she went on a killing spree. Defining circumstantial and direct evidence and giving examples was crucial to the prosecution’s case as he clearly defines both and provides concrete examples for the jurors and readers to understand. Pages 185-187 outline both. Hear the voices of the patients involved, listen to the family’s that testified and watch as the defendant’s demeanor and attitude do not mirror that of someone facing a possible capital murder charge and the death penalty. Did she do it as an angel of mercy? I doubt that. Did she do it because she had marital problems and took out her anger on the patients? Did she hate the people she was supposed to care for? Did she pick and choose? From the director of the facility to the many nurses, the patients, the employees, the medical experts and the expert witnesses this novel does not have an ordinary plot filled with characters that the author can bring back again and again. The characters are real. The story really happened. The names of those involved have not been changed and the end result and final verdict you need to read for yourself to understand what happens when a smug defense lawyer does not prepare his case as a professional, misrepresents the evidence and thinks beyond a shadow of doubt that his client will be found not guilty. With the help of the FDA who prepared a document that stated that the samples they received were tested positive for bleach while some did not. Fifty-one samples labeled with the numbers from 1-51 were sent to be tested to the FDA and CDC. The end result is shocking.
Added in Mark Kevin Saenz filed for divorce, had a restraining order against her. Woodland Heights Hospital could have started the ball rolling a lot faster had they made sure her nursing license was suspended. Firing her from her position did not stop her from getting other jobs in the field. She even worked as a receptionist in Lufkin medical office. The end result will shock you as the prosecutor believed and still does that there were more than ten victims.
The most compelling part was when at the end when the Victim Impact Statement portion of the trial takes place and the victim’s families addressed Saenz. Her sentence was pronounced on March 31, 2012 in Texas District Court. To find out if she received the death penalty and the sentence you need to read Killer Nurse.
A story so frightening and a killer so deadly you truly hope that the appeals process denies her the freedom she thinks she deserves.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
This review is dedicated to the families of those that lost their lives, those that survived and the voices of those that were never heard. This is dedicated to Team Justice and to all those that fought hard to see justice done and to those 12 jurors and 3 alternates.
Thank you for sharing your story.
November 25, 2017
The case in this book involving charges of aggravated assault and murder took place in Lufkin, Tx at DaVita Dialysis Center with the accused being Kimberly Saenz. I could recognize some of the people and much of the descripition of the community having lived here mostly since 1995. The book is hard to put down and is very thorough in its coverage of this trial. My only concern was when the author described the personalities, (especially when he talked of the ones that were not a part of the case) of the patients from the center. I felt like this was a breach of medical ethics and someone writing a book about patients should be educated on what is too much information when discussing patients. That aside , the book was very well written
June 11, 2022
Kimberly Clark Saenz is a frumpy, depressed woman who worked as a nurse at a dialysis clinic in Texas. While on duty, five of her patients expired during treatment. Kimberly was discovered to have injected bleach into the victims, thus causing a premature exit from earth. Unfortunately, the book is a tedious account, mostly detailing the backgrounds of the various players in the courtroom drama. The high school hobbies of the prosecutor do not add to the flow if the story. I needed more information on Kimberly and less on how a jury is selected. Unless you have never read a true crime book; and I have read about three hundred, we know about the process. To see how the topic is done right, read The Good Nurse, a riveting account of Charles Cullen's antics and his patient care methods.
October 27, 2022
I truly liked this book. However, I found this book to be very sad in a sense. Kimberly Saenz (Signs) from Lufkin, Texas was working as a LVN at Davita Lufkin when she put bleach into 10 dialysis patients' machines killing 5 of them. With 2 survivors. Kimberly had been a nurse at multiple other places around Lufkin, but she was always getting fired because she either no called no showed or just called in. Kimberly was the mother of 2. (A boy and a girl). She was also married but that ended in divorce about the time that she started bleach poisoning the patients. She is currently serving a life without the possibility of parole at the Gatesville, Texas penitentiary.
October 9, 2018
I was never that big into courtroom types of things until a couple of years ago. And after reading this book I'm really glad that I became a fan of them. The writing in this book is extremely good and it gives you the feeling that you are sitting right in that courtroom watching it all happen. I think that's what makes it crazy interesting....you're behind the scenes for the whole thing and you get to watch them from the very beginning as they take the defense down. Very VERY interesting read!!
August 11, 2022
Kimberly Clark Saentz stands accused of capital murder and assault with a deadly weapon for injecting her dialysis patients with bleach.
The story for me seemed repetitive, while reading I felt like I was just reading the same line over and over again. The book could have been so much better, maybe less of the same and more of the action. I also felt like it came off pretty biased. I also did not feel like the last few chapters were necessary. Once the verdict was given and the punishment was carried out that should have been it. Over all I would not recommend.
The story for me seemed repetitive, while reading I felt like I was just reading the same line over and over again. The book could have been so much better, maybe less of the same and more of the action. I also felt like it came off pretty biased. I also did not feel like the last few chapters were necessary. Once the verdict was given and the punishment was carried out that should have been it. Over all I would not recommend.
February 23, 2024
First off as a nurse I could never imagine intentionally hurting a patient. This book is very detailed regarding the trial of a nurse in East Texas who killed multiple Diyalsis patients using bleach injected into their IV ports.
This book reminds me of The Good Nurse another book about a nurse named Charles Cullen who killed multiple patients over the course of his career. It is very detailed in the trial and the evidence against her.
It definitely leaves you questioning why she did it. We never find out because she never says why.
This book reminds me of The Good Nurse another book about a nurse named Charles Cullen who killed multiple patients over the course of his career. It is very detailed in the trial and the evidence against her.
It definitely leaves you questioning why she did it. We never find out because she never says why.
June 17, 2017
This book was a really interesting read. John Foxjohn goes into Greta detail of the trial and investigation. I did not feel like he was trying to sway my opinion with his writing. He just payed out all the facts. As a Texan it is interesting to learn more about this case being the first of its kind. If you are looking for your next true crime fix this book will do the job.
October 9, 2017
As a DaVita teammate, this was an emotional read. It’s hard to think about a nurse intentionally harming patients. Although the book doesn’t give an answer to “why” other than possibly that some nurses kill because “they can”. Gut-wrenching!
It is evident that the author did his research on dialysis and the book is well written.
It is evident that the author did his research on dialysis and the book is well written.
March 21, 2025
This book was much more about the trial than about the crime. I would have read a longer book that included more of the people and then investigation. And so much info could have been omitted - we didn't need to know nearly as much about her brother, more detail on her parents, relationships, etc beyond the basics would have helped understand what made her what she became.
August 18, 2022
Just finished Killer Nurse and had to look up what else this author wrote. This book was so interesting and detailed in the court case and medical info. I liked the way he let us know about the lives of the poor people who were killed. I like the way he writes and will read more of his books.
March 12, 2018
Unbelievable that a nurse could do this to people! I could not even read it all at once because I would get so angry. This woman should for in hell!!!!!
April 23, 2018
A real page turner.
July 10, 2018
Don’t be deterred by the somewhat sensationalist cover and title - this book is a well-researched piece of journalism. Solid and interesting!
May 1, 2020
Pretty good read, terrible circumstances
December 16, 2021
Very dry read with lots of legal stuff.
April 19, 2023
I just had a hard time staying engaged while reading this book.
June 28, 2024
Focuses a lot on the legal trial, my guess is because Kim never talked much during the trial or after. The behavior of her and her attorney throughout the trial made me physically ill.
September 16, 2025
Swear to god, as long as you claim to be Christian....you can get away with being an absolute psychopath.
December 15, 2025
good writing the author does a good job at breaking down every process and why it's done that way, however what she did was truly disgusting
February 26, 2022
I couldn't put this book down. I read it in one night. Everytime I tried to put it aside and go to bed, I couldn't. I had to keep reading.
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