Jeffrey Feltner

Jeffrey Lynn Feltner (November 21, 1962 – March 17, 1993) was an American serial killer and former nurse's aide who smothered seven patients to death from 1988 to 1989 at the hospitals he worked at. After initially confessing but later recanting his statements, he pleaded guilty to two of the murders in exchange for a 25-to-life sentence and no further charges in the other murders. A few years after his conviction, he died behind bars from AIDS complications.

Early life Jeffrey Lynn Feltner was born on November 21, 1962, in Miami, Florida. His parents split up three months before his birth, with his father Kasper moving to Michigan while Feltner remained with his mother, Shirley. The pair moved to Melrose in 1979, where Feltner attended and later graduated from the Interlachen High School. Considered a loner by most of his peers, he started spending a majority of his time visiting gay bars and similar establishments around the area. During one sexual encounter, he contracted HIV, which progressively worsened over time. These victims were the following: Bernie "Berniece" Katherine Olsen, 69 - retired schoolteacher who had moved to Florida to be closer to her sister. Died on February 7, in what was thought to be the result of Alzheimer's disease. Lathan Thornton, 82 - retired U.S. Navy veteran from Gainesville. Died on February 8. Sarah F. Abrams, 75 - died on February 10. At the time of her death, family members noticed suspicious bruises around her nose and mouth and requested an autopsy, but their request was dismissed by coroners who thought that the death was the result of a heart attack. In contrast to Feltner's later claims, she was neither bedridden nor suicidal, and her only notable issues were due to old age. Rita May Sugrue, 63 - died on February 18. William H. James, 73 - retired war veteran from Jacksonville. Died on April 6, having been suffocated by Feltner.

Despite these confessions and Feltner being questioned by police, no charges were brought due to a lack of evidence. In the midst of the investigation, Feltner called anonymously again and claimed he had attempted to kill another patient, but his claims were found to be contradictory and he was dismissed as a crank. In order to prevent him from repeating this, he was charged and found guilty of making harassing phone calls, trespassing and filing a false report, receiving a four-month sentence at a local prison.

After his release on November 19, Feltner moved to Daytona Beach, where he lived in an apartment above a bar on Main Street. He soon found work at the Clyatt Memorial Center, where he was again hired as a supervisor for the nurse's aides. On July 11, 1989, 83-year-old Doris Moriarty, a longtime resident of the center, died suddenly. Her death was not considered suspicious at the time, as she had been in ill health for the past few years. A few days later, Feltner was fired for failing to show up at work, but soon found employment at the Bowman's Nursing Home in Ormond Beach.

Soon after his arrest, he was charged with the killings and put on trial for them in January 1990. To the investigators' surprise, Feltner recanted his testimony and claimed that he falsely confessed to the killings in order to bring attention to the appalling conditions and abuse that occurred at the nursing homes. This statement was supported by his parents, who voiced their belief that their son would never commit such a horrendous crime.

While he continued to deny the murder charges, Feltner nonetheless pleaded guilty to two of the murders in order to avoid a potential death sentence. As part of the plea bargain, he would not be charged with the remaining murders and would serve a 25-years-to-life sentence at the Florida State Prison in Raiford. His mother later claimed that the sole reason he confessed was that his life could end quickly, as Feltner's AIDS had been getting progressively worse despite treatment with Aztreonam. As a result of this, he died on March 17, 1993.