An Argentine nurse was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering five healthy newborns and attempting to kill eight more at a hospital in Córdoba province, a case that has shaken the country’s healthcare system.
Brenda Cecilia Aguero was found guilty of injecting lethal doses of potassium and insulin into infants at the maternal and child hospital in Córdoba between March and June 2022. According to prosecutors, she accessed the substances from emergency medical carts that lacked inventory monitoring.
Aguero, who was arrested in 2022, denied all charges and claimed during the trial that there was no solid evidence against her. She also accused the media of falsely labeling her a “serial killer.”
The court delivered its verdict on Wednesday, with Aguero receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 35 years, as mandated by Argentine law. The ruling was broadcast on national media.
The victims—initially healthy babies—died under mysterious circumstances until further investigation revealed signs of intentional poisoning. Eight other infants were saved through timely medical intervention.
The high-profile trial also involved 10 other defendants, including former health officials and hospital staff, who faced charges related to negligence and cover-up. Five were convicted with lesser penalties, while the remaining—including a former health minister and hospital director—were acquitted.
