Serial killer nurse Lucy Letby made chilling comments to nurses as she planned her return to the hospital, an inquiry has revealed. Letby had been removed from the Countess of Chester Hospital unit in July 2016 following concerns raised by consultant paediatricians about unexpected deaths and collapses of babies under her care. Despite ongoing concerns, consultants were instructed to move on from the case, as external reviews found no evidence of criminality at the time of her removal.
Letby sent a group email to neonatal nurses in January 2017, stating that she had been fully exonerated of any wrongdoing after a thorough investigation into the allegations made against her. The email sparked surprise and unease among colleagues who were unaware of the details of the allegations. Nurse Kathryn Percival-Calderbank described the staff’s reaction as stunned, as they were instructed to be supportive of Letby upon her return.
The inquiry heard testimonies from nurses describing Letby’s behaviour as unusual and unsettling. Nurse Melanie Taylor recalled how Letby seemed excited to share news of a baby’s death in a gossipy manner. Another nurse, Ashleigh Hudson, revealed how Letby’s messages about deceased patients left her devastated and uncomfortable, especially in hindsight after Letby was convicted of murder.
Letby, serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, maintained her innocence and projected a facade of normality to colleagues. The inquiry, chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall, aims to uncover the events surrounding Letby’s crimes and is expected to conclude early next year. The shocking revelations from the inquiry shed light on the manipulative and chilling nature of Lucy Letby as she deceived her colleagues and committed heinous crimes undetected.