Soldier to Healer to Night Shift Killer ~ Angel of Death Part 3

I am appalled at the amount of information on this case, so I had to divide all the things involved in the Charles Cullen "Angel of Death" story... This man is just despicable. 

I also had to jump a bit back and forth between his personal life and his professional life; as they do really coincide with each other. When one begins to fall apart, the crime spree seems to escalate...

 It appears that Charles Cullen's personal life was just as out-of-control and unstable as he was. After the breakdown of his marriage, to Adrienne Baum ended partially because she claimed he was “extreme cruelty,” Cullen asked a nurse by the name of Michelle Tomlinson out to dinner.

It didn't take long for Michelle Tomlinson to learn why his ex-wife was so afraid of him and had a restraining order out on him because Charles became very obsessive and erratic with her. Michelle, like Adrienne had to involve law enforcement, and according to a police report, she filed, Michelle Tomlinson said Cullen was harassing her. He would repeatedly call her even though she told him to stop. He would even follow her around the hospital like a lost puppy, with an engagement ring, pleading with her. 

Charles Cullen's obsession went beyond following her around at the hospital, and incessant phone calls.... in the early morning of March 23, 1993, he broke into Michelle Tomlinson's home, as if that wasn't bad enough; both Michelle and her young son were in their beds sleeping when he did it. He was subsequently arrested. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespassing and received one year of probation. He once again attempted suicide a few days after his arrest, and even confided in the police that he fantasized Michelle Tomlinson was his girlfriend.

(Can anyone tell me how this man maintained his medical license as a registered nurse, when it was clear he wqas mentally unstable and capable of anything at this point???)

In 1999, Cullen got a job at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, PA. He worked there for 3 years and murdered at least 5 people. Finally in June 2002 one of his co-workers found vials of medication that is used for hypertension and afib; they were hidden in the disposal bin for used needles. St Luke's opened an investigation internally; once again, it was determined that Charles Cullen had stolen the drugs; but had no explanation as to why he would throw out full vials of medications. Since Cullen refused to help with the investigation, nor give an explanation for his erratice behaviour, he was allowed to resign. 

Once Cullen had left St. Luke's, a co-worker had approached the authorities, asking them to further investigate Charles Cullen, as they had files of close to 70 patients that had passed away while in his care. The authorities reviewed the files and concluded there wasn't enough evidence to proceed with the case; and he would not be investigated as a serial murderer. They left it at that.... not even making the effort to infor any potential future employers.

(Again, why was he not fired???)

This is where the downfall of Charles Cullen was starting; although there could never be any true justice for all the victims' families.

In 2002, Charles Cullen got a job working at Somerset Medical Center in New Jersey. This would be where he met a nurse named Amy Loughren. Remember her name as Amy Loughren plays huge role in his life; although at this point, neither one of them would know it. Amy was a single mother of 2, also coping with cardiomyopathy, (a heart muscle disease). They quickly became friends and Charles became a huge support for her once he knew about her heart condition. The feelings were mutual as later, Amy would be cited as saying, 

“He was funny. We bonded right away and became friends.”

To be continued....