Published on: September 23, 2024, 07:47h. 

Last updated on: September 21, 2024, 06:34h.

In March and April 1980, Las Vegas gained international attention for a shocking event.

It was reported that seven nurses in the ICU at Sunrise Hospital placed bets on when their patients would pass away. They were observed exchanging money in an envelope with their predictions written on a sheet of paper.

Supervisor Jani Adams went as far as tampering with life-support systems to assist her colleagues in winning.

Deathbed Scandal

Headlines like “ANGEL OF DEATH!” in the New York Post and the involvement of Nurse Adams in a hospital betting controversy shocked the nation.

This scandal seemed straight out of fiction, as even Walter Cronkite, a trusted news anchor, expressed astonishment on national television.

Following the incident, Sunrise Hospital suspended all seven employees and launched an investigation into six recent ICU patient deaths for possible foul play.

Adams, known as the Angel of Death, was subsequently arrested and indicted for murder by a Nevada grand jury for her involvement in the demise of a patient named Vincent Fraser.

Of the investigated cases, Fraser’s situation seemed most likely for prosecution. His widow even confirmed being asked to sign a mortuary release form a day before his passing, adding suspicion to his death.

An officer who apprehended Adams even threatened her with the gas chamber due to his outrage at her perceived disregard for human life.

Clarification

Upon closer examination, it was revealed that the scandal was a result of misinterpretations by a nurse new to the night shift, Barbara Farro, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Farro misunderstood conversations among the nurses and mistakenly believed that the patient’s life-support equipment had been tampered with, leading to unwarranted conclusions.

Information leaked to the media contributed to the sensationalism of the story. Quotes from Nevada Governor Robert List and a Chief Clark County health officer fanned the flames of speculation.

Adams’ dark humor and casual remarks at work added further complexity to the situation.

Legal Outcome

During Adams’ trial, she claimed that the money envelope was for a farewell gift to a departing nurse. The lack of substantial evidence led even the District Attorney to doubt the murder accusations.

Medical records revealed that Fraser’s condition was critical before his passing, caused by severe health issues, not foul play.

Ultimately, the indictment against Adams was dismissed due to insufficient proof, and she returned to work with the support of colleagues and hospital authorities.

The media’s initial frenzy subsided, but the mythical narrative of the scandal continues to intrigue people, perpetuating it as a sensational piece of “only in Vegas” lore.