A Virginia hospital places employee on leave after disturbing videos surface advocating violence against federal agents using the same deadly drug that killed Nevada’s first female State Controller
When you think about dangerous places in America, a hospital probably doesn’t come to mind. But recent events at VCU Health in Virginia should give every American pause, especially Nevadans who remember one of the state’s most chilling murder cases.
A healthcare worker at VCU Health posted videos encouraging people to inject ICE agents with succinylcholine. If that drug name sounds unfamiliar, let me tell you why it should matter to every Nevada voter.
The Nevada Connection
In 2006, Nevada State Controller Kathy Augustine was murdered by her husband Chaz Higgs using that exact drug. Augustine was Nevada’s first female State Controller, a rising Republican star running for State Treasurer when her life was cut short.
Higgs, a critical care nurse, injected his wife with succinylcholine while she slept in their Reno home. The drug paralyzes every muscle including those you use to breathe. You stay conscious while you suffocate, unable to move or call for help.
Higgs told a coworker that if you want to kill someone, use succinylcholine because:
“it can never be detected.”
He was wrong. FBI toxicologists found traces in Kathy’s system. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2007 and is serving life with possible parole after 20 years.
What Makes This Drug So Dangerous
Succinylcholine is a legitimate medical drug used during surgery and emergency procedures. It temporarily paralyzes patients so doctors can insert breathing tubes. The drug works within 60 seconds and lasts about 6 minutes when used properly.
But in the wrong hands, it’s a weapon. Healthcare workers have access to it and know exactly what it does to a human body. The VCU Health employee knew all this when she posted instructions on using it against ICE agents.
Why This Matters for Conservatives
This raises serious questions about who we trust with our healthcare and safety. People are putting political ideology above professional responsibility and medical ethics.
VCU Health issued a statement Monday placing the employee on administrative leave with VCU Police investigating.
The statement said the videos are:
“highly inappropriate and does not reflect the integrity or values of our health system.”
What Happens Next
VCU Health says the investigation is ongoing. But Nevadans know how this story can end. We’ve seen what happens when healthcare workers weaponize their access to deadly drugs. Kathy Augustine’s family lived through it.
Will charges be filed? Will this person lose their medical credentials? Or will this get swept under the rug as just “social media talk”?
For conservatives who believe in law and order, the answer is clear. Making terrorist threats against federal agents isn’t protected speech. Instructing people on how to poison officers isn’t political expression. It’s criminal behavior that demands prosecution.
The Aftermath Nevada Wants to Forget
At the hospital where Kathy died, 22 employees were fired and one social worker committed suicide.
This came out during Higgs’ trial when nurse Marline Swanbeck testified the firings were for “breach of confidentiality.” Hospital staff had been looking at Augustine’s medical files and discussing her condition.
Defense attorney David Houston said employees refused to talk about what happened. One hospital worker claimed the mass firing was used “to cover up the firing of one.”
Swanbeck also testified that succinylcholine was “readily accessible to staff” at the hospital. Only after Augustine’s murder did they tighten procedures. A nurse with murderous intent could walk into a supply room and grab a deadly drug with no real oversight. They fixed the problem only after someone died.
What You Can Do
Keep pressure on VCU Health and Virginia authorities to take action. Support law enforcement and ICE agents risking their lives while facing these threats.
Remember Kathy Augustine. Her murder showed the deadly consequences when healthcare access meets criminal intent. Whether this woman faces consequences will tell us whether our institutions still take the rule of law seriously.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
