Lucy Letby is a name that will forever be associated with horror and tragedy. She was a former neonatal nurse convicted of killing seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital in England.
She was the most prolific child murderer in modern British history. Her crimes shocked and saddened the public, especially the parents and families of her victims who had trusted her with the care of their newborns.
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- Full name: Lucy Victoria Letby
- Date of birth: January 4, 1990
- Age: 33 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Hereford, Herefordshire, England
- Nationality: British
- Occupation: Former neonatal nurse
- Height: 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)
- Parents: John Letby (father), Susan Letby (mother)
- Siblings: None
- Spouse: None
- Children: None
- Relationship status: Single
- Net worth: $400,000
Early life and education
Lucy Letby, 33 years old in 2023, was born on 4 January 1990 in Hereford, Herefordshire.
She is the only child of John and Susan Letby, both teachers. She grew up in a middle-class family in a townhouse in the city.
She attended St James’ Church of England Primary School and then Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School, where she was an intelligent and quiet pupil.
She is interested in science and biology and has a passion for animals. She has a pet rabbit named Flopsy and volunteers at a local animal shelter.
She decided to pursue a career in nursing and enrolled at the University of Chester in 2008. She studied nursing for three years and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2011. She also completed a postgraduate course in neonatal intensive care in 2013.
She worked in the neonatal unit at Countess of Chester Hospital from 2011 to 2016, where she cared for premature and sick babies.
She also interned at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where two babies died during her training.
Personal life
Lucy Letby is single and has no children. She lives alone in a rented flat in Blacon, a suburb of Chester.
Neighbors and co-workers described her as friendly and helpful, often smiling and chatting with them.
She enjoys traveling, cycling and hiking and has visited several European and Asian countries. She also enjoys reading, watching movies and listening to music. She is a fan of Harry Potter and Disney.
She has a few close friends, mostly fellow nurses or former classmates. She keeps in touch with them through social media and phone calls. She has also had a few romantic relationships, but none have lasted long.
Career
Both achievement and cruelty marked Lucy Letby’s career as a neonatal nurse. Her superiors and colleagues praised her for her skills and dedication. She was involved in several research projects and publications related to neonatal care.
She also participates in fundraising events and charity runs for the hospital. She is considered a trustworthy and respected employee, and has good relationships with the parents and families of the children in her care.
However, behind her professional appearance, she is also a cold-blooded killer, deliberately harming and killing the children in her care.
She used various methods to cause pain and death to the infants, such as injecting air or insulin, overfeeding them, and abusing them with medical instruments.
She also removed confidential nurse handover papers from the workplace and falsified patient records to avoid suspicion.
She targeted vulnerable and fragile children who were unable to fight back or tell anyone what she did to them.
Her crimes were discovered after a large number of infant deaths and near-fatal cases in the neonatal unit raised suspicion.
Statistical analysis showed that the unit’s fatality rate was significantly higher than the national average, and most of the incidents occurred while Letby was on duty.
She was first arrested in July 2018 and twice more before being charged in November 2020.
She is accused of killing seven infants and attempting to kill six others between June 2015 and June 2016.
Argumentative
The case of Lucy Letby has caused much controversy and outrage, both in Britain and around the world. She has been condemned as a monster, a psychopath and a sadist who betrayed her oath and her profession.
She has also been compared to other notorious serial killers, such as Harold Shipman, Beverley Allitt and the Angel of Death.
Her case has raised questions about the safety and quality of newborn care, nurse screening and supervision, and the detection and prevention of medical crime.
The British government has commissioned an independent statutory inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the murder.
The inquiry will look at the actions and decisions of the Countess of Chester Hospital, the police, the coroner and other relevant agencies.
The inquiry will also make recommendations to improve the protection and welfare of babies and their families. The inquiry is expected to take several years to complete.
Countess of Chester Hospital management has also been criticised for ignoring warnings about Letby that could have prevented some of the killings.
It was revealed that several of her colleagues had raised concerns about her behaviour and performance, but they were dismissed or silenced.
It was also revealed that the hospital failed to report a number of deaths and incidents to authorities and delayed launching an internal investigation.
The hospital has apologized to the victim’s parents and family and promised to cooperate with the investigation and make changes.
Social media
- Instagram Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
Net worth
Lucy Letby’s net worth is around $400,000, although she does not disclose her income or assets to the public.