‘She was the shadow of death’: Canadian nurse gets life sentence for murdering eight elderly patients

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Elizabeth Wettlaufer is escorted by police from the courthouse in Woodstock, Ontario, on Monday after she was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. Photo: AP

Published: 2:54pm, 27 Jun 2017Updated: 2:54pm, 27 Jun 2017

A former nurse convicted of killing eight elderly people in her care was sentenced Monday to life imprisonment without possibility of parole for 25 years.

Elizabeth Wettlaufer pleaded guilty last month to eight counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault in the notorious serial killings. The 50-year-old told the court on Monday that she is truly sorry and hopes her victims’ families can find peace and healing.

Authorities have said the 14 assaults on patients took place over the last decade in three Ontario long-term care facilities where Wettlaufer worked as a registered nurse, and at a private home. Wettlaufer admitted deliberately delivering fatal doses of insulin in all of the cases from 2007-2016.

“It is a complete betrayal of trust when a caregiver does not prolong life, but terminates it,” Justice Bruce Thomas said. “She was the shadow of death that passed over them on the night shift where she supervised.”

Family members lean on each other for support after reading their impact statements to the court at the sentencing of Elizabeth Wettlaufer, in Woodstock, Ontario. Photo: AP

The Caressant Care Woodstock Long Term Care Home, where police accuse nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer of killing elderly patients, is seen in Woodstock, Ontario. Photo: Reuters

Susan Horvath, a daughter of victim Arpad Horvath, said she did not read her victim impact statement because she couldn’t trust herself being too physically close to Wettlaufer in the courtroom.

“I am too angry,” she said. “I didn’t trust myself up there.”