Glendale Adventist started its internal investigation in 1997 after
rumors of misconduct concerning Saldivar arose.
"Our internal investigation was ongoing; it never stopped," Newmyer
said Wednesday. Glendale Police were notified of the allegations in March
1998, after another rumor surfaced.
Saldivar allegedly confessed to killing as many as 50 terminally ill
patients but recanted later on national television interviews.
Saldivar, who was being held Wednesday without bail, was arrested
Tuesday morning as he drove to work from his Tujunga home. Prosecutors
filed six murder charges against him Wednesday morning that carries two
special circumstances -- murder by poisoning and multiple murder -- that
make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
Police focused on six patients after researchers at Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory found the drug Pavulon in their systems. Five of the
patients did not receive any Pavulon, a muscle relaxant commonly used
before surgery to stop normal breathing and begin artificial means like
ventilators, during their legitimate medical treatment, prosecutors said.
"To this day, we have no idea how or where Saldivar may have obtained
the drugs he claimed he used," Newmyer said.
During his alleged confession, Saldivar said he injected Pavulon and
succinylcholine into patients to stop their breathing, officials said.
The drug Versed, a sedative, was recently found during a search of
Saldivar's home, officials said. Because of that discovery, Saldivar was
also charged with receiving stolen property.
ALLEGED VICTIMS
* Jose Alfaro, 82 -- admitted on Jan. 2, 1997 and died two days later.
* Salbi Asatryan, 75 -- admitted on Dec. 27, 1996 and died three days
later.
* Myrtle Brower, 84 -- admitted Aug. 18, 1997 and died 10 days later.
* Balbino Castro, 87 -- admitted Aug. 6, 1997 and died nine days
later.
* Luina Schidlowski, 87 -- admitted Jan. 20, 1997 and died two days
later.
* Eleanora Schlegel, 77 -- admitted Dec. 30, 1996 and died three days
later.
