Angel of mercy (criminology): Difference between revisions

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An angel of mercy is a rare type of serial killer who is usually female, and employed as a caretaker. The angel of mercy is often in a position of power and decides the victim would be better off if they no longer suffered. This person then uses their knowledge to manufacture the death of her/his victim. As time goes on, this behavior escalates to encapsulate the healthy and the easily treated.

One known serial killer that does seem to fit this description is Jane Toppan. As a nurse, she would derive pleasure by saving the lives of her patients after bringing them to the brink of death through drug induced comas. Soon afterwards, she found she derived more pleasure in their deaths.

In literature

The two spinster aunts in Joseph Kesselring's play Arsenic and Old Lace act as angels of mercy for lonely old men, poisoning them with elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychine and cyanide.

The character Annie Wilkes in the Stephen King novel Misery seems to be a serial killer of this type. Additionally, "Angel of mercy" is mentioned in Agatha Christie's novel By the Pricking of My Thumbs. The novel The 5th Horseman in James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series features an "Angel of Mercy" serial killer. The term is also mentioned in a Fear Factory song "Demanufacture".

In the television series Dexter, Dexter Morgan's first kill is his father's nurse; an angel of mercy.

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-An '''angel of mercy''' is a rare type of [[serial killer]] who is usually female, and employed as a caretaker.  The angel of mercy is often in a position of power and decides the victim would be better off if they no longer suffered.  This person then uses their knowledge to manufacture the death of her/his victim.  As time goes on, this behavior escalates to encapsulate the healthy and the easily treated.
+An '''angel of mercy''' is a rare type of [[serial killer]] who is usually female, and employed as a caretaker.  The angel of mercy is often in a position of power and decides the victim would be better off if they no longer suffered. This person then uses their knowledge to manufacture the death of her/his victim.  As time goes on, this behavior escalates to encapsulate the healthy and the easily treated.
-One known serial killer that does seem to fit this description is [[Jane Toppan]].  As a nurse she would derive pleasure by saving the lives of her patients after bringing them to the brink of death through drug induced comas.  Soon afterwards she found she derived more pleasure in their deaths.
+One known serial killer that does seem to fit this description is [[Jane Toppan]]. As a nurse, she would derive pleasure by saving the lives of her patients after bringing them to the brink of death through drug induced comas. Soon afterwards, she found she derived more pleasure in their deaths.
 == In literature ==
 The two spinster aunts in [[Joseph Kesselring]]'s play ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' act as angels of mercy for lonely old men, poisoning them with elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychine and cyanide.
-The character [[Annie Wilkes]] in the [[Stephen King]] novel ''[[Misery (novel)|Misery]]'' seems to be a serial killer of this type.
+The character [[Annie Wilkes]] in the [[Stephen King]] novel ''[[Misery (novel)|Misery]]'' seems to be a serial killer of this type. Additionally, "Angel of mercy" is mentioned in [[Agatha Christie]]'s novel ''[[By the Pricking of My Thumbs (novel)|By the Pricking of My Thumbs]]''. The novel ''[[The 5th Horseman]]'' in [[James Patterson]]'s  [[Women's Murder Club]] series features an "Angel of Mercy" serial killer. The term is also mentioned in a [[Fear Factory]] song "Demanufacture".
-"Angel of mercy" is mentioned in [[Agatha Christie]]'s novel ''[[By the Pricking of My Thumbs (novel)|By the Pricking of My Thumbs]]''. It is also mentioned in a [[Fear Factory]] song "Demanufacture".
 In the television series ''[[Dexter (TV series)|Dexter]]'', Dexter Morgan's first kill is his father's nurse; an angel of mercy.
-The novel ''[[The 5th Horseman]]'' in [[James Patterson]]'s  [[Women's Murder Club]] series features an "Angel of Mercy" serial killer.
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