Hospital officials contacted the Nocona police chief. They reported a drug missing from the hospital inventory. An unusually high number of deaths was also observed during the same time period, between December 2000 and January 2001. Authorities said the missing drug stops the natural breathing process to relax chest muscles for the insertion of a ventilator tube, and can result in death if improperly used. Investigators plan to exhume the bodies of those whose deaths may be in question to determine the exact cause of death.
Authorities suspect one person after talking to witnesses and members of the hospital staff.
While a motive is still undetermined, they hope to find answers when they begin exhuming bodies of patients in the next month or two.