The Story Of The Serial Killer Who Terrorized This Small Kentucky Town Is Truly Frightening
By Andrea Limke|Published January 12, 2018
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
Kentucky is the source of plenty of haunted tales and ghost stories, all of which are sure to send chills down your spine. But this story of a real life serial killer who terrorized patients while lying in their hospital beds in London, Kentucky is even more frightening, because it’s true. Donald Harvey, who called himself the “Angel of Death,” was evil beyond words and the tale of how he impacted this small Kentucky town is baffling.
In case you are unfamiliar with the story behind serial killer Donald Harvey, here is a brief review.
Harvey worked in the medical field from the age of 18 and he claims in his years in hospitals to have murdered 87 people throughout the 70s and 80s. There is no way of knowing for sure how many, but authorities thought it to be closer to 37-57. Most of his killings took place within the Marymount Hospital in London, Kentucky. Which as you can see from the photo above, has since been torn down and replaced with a new hospital.
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It was years until Harvey was caught and put to trial at the Laurel County Courthouse.
It turns out, Harvey also committed murders in Cincinnati at both the V.A. Medical Hospital and Drake Hospital. It was discovered that he would feed patients poison, turn off their ventilators, inject them with infections, among other methods. He said it started as a way to ease their pain, but he later admitted to enjoying the killing process and readily plead guilty in 1987 to avoid the death penalty.
Donald Harvey was sentenced to 28 life sentences and locked away in the Toledo Correctional Institute in Toledo, Ohio.
And then, almost a year ago on March 28, 2017, Harvey was found badly beaten within his prison cell. He died in prison, two days later. He wasn't up for a parole hearing until 2043.
While London, Kentucky may have been the backdrop for this horrific murder spree, the town itself remains charming, inviting, and full of exciting festivities.
Well known for the World Chicken Festival, among other things, London is one of countless friendly small towns in Kentucky. It just happens to be the spot where serial killer Donald Harvey carried out some of the most horrific crimes our state has seen.
Thankfully, time has passed and while many still mourn the loss caused by this terrifying serial killer, the town of London has moved on and is known for so much more. Have you heard the story of Donald Harvey? What other real life scary stories from Kentucky do you find terrifying? Feel free to share with us in the comments.
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