Syringe used as deadly weapon, says indictment against nurse

Published 3:05 am Saturday, June 30, 2018

An indictment from the Smith County grand jury said the East Texas nurse accused of injuring patients at a Tyler hospital used a syringe as a deadly weapon.

William George Davis was indicted June 21 on a charge of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The indictment alleges Davis caused the death of Christopher Greenaway, 47, in August at the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital by introducing air into his arterial system.

“The defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon, to-wit a syringe, that in the manner and means of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury,” the indictment reads.

Joseph Kalina’s assault occurred Jan. 25, 2018, according to one count of the indictment.

The indictment says Davis intentionally, knowingly and recklessly caused serious bodily injury to Kalina by introducing air into his arterial system, and Davis used a syringe during the assault.

Pamela Henderson, 64, of Tyler, was assaulted by Davis on Nov. 30, 2017, according to the indictment.

Davis introduced air into her arterial system and caused her to have serious bodily injury, according to the indictment.

In each case, the victims were postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients who were progressing on a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Christus Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital when they experienced profound and unexplainable incidents resembling strokelike symptoms, according to information presented in the arrest warrant affidavit for Davis.

Davis was arrested in April and charged with murder in connection with the August death of Greenaway, who was recovering from a heart procedure at the hospital.

Davis is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 19. His trial date is scheduled for Dec. 3 in the 114th District Court.