Woman accused in DaVita deaths indicted for capital murder

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - An Angelina County Grand Jury has indicted a Lufkin woman connected in the deaths of five patients at the DaVita Dialysis Center for one count of capital murder and five counts of aggravated assault.

An official with the Angelina County jail said Kimberly Saenz, 35, had turned herself in to the jail on Wednesday, one year to the day of her allegedly killing two patients. Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington said she is being held with no bond and is expected to be arraigned within the next 10 days.

Saenz was arrested May 30, 2008, and charged with intentionally harming two patients after two witnesses said they saw Saenz draw two syringes with bleach. She had been out on bond until today.

The grand jury's indictment said Saenz murdered at least two of the following: Clara Strange, Thelma Metcalf, Garlin Kelley, Cora Bryant and Opal Few by injecting them with bleach. Saenz is also indicted for causing bodily injury to Carolyn Risinger, Debra Oates, Graciela Castenada and Marie Bradley.

Saenz was fired by DaVita in April of 2008, according to a past story on KTRE.com.

"The grand jury has issued an indictment for capital murder for the death of five patients and further, five additional indictments for aggravated assault," Larry Crisp, regional vice president for DaVita, said.

"Our patients and the caregivers have been outraged at how the alleged actions of one person have caused so much pain and trauma to so many," Crisp said.

DaVita shut its doors in Lufkin on April 28, 2008, following a string of unusual deaths. They reopened on July 2, after satisfying state requirements.