MYSTERY: Doctor Death

MYSTERY: Doctor Death

From Murder: True Crime Stories by Crime House

September 4, 2026 · 42 min · Episode 210

About this episode

This episode examines the chilling case of Michael Swango, a doctor who may have been responsible for dozens of patient deaths while evading detection for years.

Michael Swango was a charming, ambitious young doctor who seemed destined for a successful medical career when he began his residency in Ohio in the early 1980s. But wherever he worked, patients who should have recovered began dying without explanation, and colleagues who fell ill after eating food he brought them narrowly survived. For years, hospitals and medical boards across the United States and eventually as far as Zimbabwe passed him along rather than confront the mounting suspicions, allowing him to keep practicing and leaving a trail of poisoned patients in his wake. By the time authorities finally caught up with him, he may have been responsible for dozens of deaths. In this episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, host Carter Roy examines the case of Michael Swango, the institutions that trusted him long after the warning signs appeared, and the chilling question of how a man sworn to heal was able to kill for so long while hiding in plain sight. Head over to our YouTube channel to WATCH our video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@crimehousestudios   If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Murder: True Crime Stories to never miss a case! Want all 2 parts of…

People in this episode

Host: Carter Roy

Topics covered

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Crime House, PAVE Studios

Places: Ohio, Zimbabwe

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