Ethan Rhodes
John Meehan, also known as Dirty John, was a nurse anesthesiologist who was accused of stealing drugs from hospitals in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. He was also accused of bringing a gun into an operating room. Meehan's criminal activities were first discovered when his wife, Tonia Sells, found surgical anesthetic drugs in their home. This led to a police investigation that resulted in Meehan losing his license to work as a nurse anesthetist and being convicted of drug theft charges. Meehan had a history of preying on women, including his romantic partners, and was known for his manipulative and deceptive behavior. He was hospitalized after being attacked by Terra Newell, who acted in self-defense when he tried to abduct her.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for hospitalisation | Back surgery |
| Other reasons for hospital visits | John brought a gun into an operating room and stole drugs from hospitals in four states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky |
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What You'll Learn
John Meehan was a nurse
Meehan's nursing career fell apart when he was caught stealing drugs from patients in the hospitals where he worked. He was a drug addict and had served time in California and Michigan for stealing narcotics from hospitals in four states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. Meehan's modus operandi was to sweep his romantic partners off their feet using a web of flattery and deceit, manipulating his way into their finances, and then becoming abusive when they threatened to leave him.
Meehan was investigated by the police in September 2000 after hospital workers reported seeing him bring a gun into the operating room and steal drugs. He lost his nursing license as a result of this incident. Meehan was also caught trying to submit a patient's urine as his own during a drug test. He was convicted of menacing behaviour and received a suspended sentence.
In February 2014, Meehan pleaded guilty to stalking a woman, whom he had dated after showing up in her hospital room as her anesthesiologist. He was released in the summer of 2014 but was soon arrested again for violating a restraining order against another woman. Meehan's deceptions and criminal activities had a significant impact on his personal and professional life, ultimately leading to his demise.
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He was accused of stealing drugs from hospitals
John Meehan, also known as "Dirty John", was accused of stealing drugs from hospitals in four states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. Meehan was a nurse anesthesiologist, and his modus operandi was to sweep his romantic partners off their feet, gain access to their finances, and then grow abusive when they threatened to leave him.
In 2000, Tonia Bales, Meehan's wife at the time, discovered his hidden supply of surgical anesthetic drugs at their home in Ohio. Knowing that he had no reason to possess these drugs outside of a hospital, she informed the police, who began an investigation. This investigation revealed that Meehan had a history of stealing narcotics from hospitals where he worked as a nurse. He had served time in California and Michigan for these offences.
In addition to stealing drugs, Meehan was also accused of bringing a gun into an operating room and submitting a patient's urine sample as his own during a drug test. He lost his license to work as a nurse anesthetist and was convicted of menacing behaviour after harassing and threatening his ex-wife, Tonia.
Meehan's criminal behaviour extended beyond his activities in hospitals. He was a con artist and a master manipulator who preyed on women, particularly those in vulnerable states, such as recovering from surgery. He would often pose as a doctor or anesthesiologist to gain their trust and then extort money from them. In one instance, he sent intimate photos of a woman to her family when she refused to transfer money to his account.
In 2002, Meehan pleaded guilty to drug theft charges and served 17 months in a Michigan prison. Despite his history of drug-related offences and abusive behaviour, Meehan continued to find victims, including Debra Newell, whom he met on an over-50s dating website in 2014.
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He brought a gun into an operating room
John Meehan, also known as "Dirty John", was a nurse anesthesiologist. He was investigated by the police after hospital workers reported seeing him bring a gun into an operating room and steal Demerol, a surgical anesthetic drug, which he should have been administering to a patient. Dennis Luken, an investigator for the Warren County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio, called John “the most devious, dangerous, deceptive person I ever met”.
John had a history of stealing narcotics from hospitals and serving time in California and Michigan for it. He also had a drug charge against him in California. John's ex-wife, Tonia, discovered his supply of surgical anesthetic drugs at their home in Ohio, which he had no reason to possess outside the hospital. She then informed the police, who began an investigation of John.
John's nursing career fell apart after he was caught stealing drugs from patients in the hospitals where he worked. He was accused of stealing drugs from hospitals in four states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. John's employer, a group of anesthesiologists, reported that he was stealing drugs that he should have been giving to patients. He was also caught trying to submit a patient's urine as his own during a drug test.
John's license to work as a nurse anesthetist was revoked after the police found a loaded gun and empty containers for medications from a hospital in Kentucky during a search of his home. He had a pattern of harassing and threatening his ex-wife, Tonia, until she took him to court, where he was convicted of menacing behavior and received a suspended sentence.
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He was convicted of menacing behaviour and received a suspended sentence
John Meehan, also known as "Dirty John", was a serial con artist and master manipulator. He was a nurse anesthesiologist who was convicted of stealing drugs from hospitals in four states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. He would prey on unsuspecting women, particularly in hospitals where they were recovering from surgery, and sweep them off their feet with flattery and deceit.
Meehan's pattern was to gain the trust of these women, weasel his way into their finances, and then grow abusive when they threatened to leave him. He had a long history of harassing and threatening his ex-wife, Tonia Sells, and other women he met online. In 2000, Sells took him to court, where he was convicted of menacing behavior and received a suspended sentence. Despite this conviction, Meehan continued to cause trouble at other hospitals. He was reported to have brought a gun into an operating room and was investigated for stealing drugs that should have been administered to patients.
Meehan's behavior eventually led to the loss of his nursing license. In 2002, he pled guilty to drug theft charges and served 17 months in a Michigan prison. After his release in 2004, Meehan continued his manipulative and criminal behavior, including stalking a woman and violating restraining orders. His web of deceit and abuse inspired the true-crime podcast and TV series "Dirty John", which chronicled his exploits and the impact on the lives of his victims.
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He was in hospital for back surgery
John Meehan, also known as "Dirty John", was in the hospital for back surgery. Meehan was a serial con artist and master manipulator who preyed on women, particularly those who were vulnerable. He was a drug addict with a history of threatening and intimidating women.
Meehan's web of deceit and abuse was exposed when his partner, Debra Newell, discovered warnings about him online and learned that he had a criminal past. She also found out that he had never attended medical school and had served time in prison for stealing narcotics from hospitals where he worked as a nurse. Newell moved out of their shared home while Meehan was in the hospital, but the couple later reconciled.
Meehan's criminal activities extended beyond drug theft. He was also accused of bringing a gun into an operating room and stealing drugs that were meant for patients. He lost his license to work as a nurse anesthetist due to these offences. Additionally, Meehan had a pattern of harassing and threatening his ex-partners, leading to convictions for menacing behaviour.
Dirty John's true story inspired a popular true-crime podcast and a TV series by the same name, highlighting the chilling tale of manipulation, abuse, and the impact on Newell and her family.
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Frequently asked questions
John Meehan was hospitalised after being attacked by Terra Newell, who acted in self-defence when he tried to abduct her.
John Meehan was in the hospital for back surgery because he had back problems.
John Meehan worked in a hospital as a nurse anesthesiologist.
John Meehan went to prison for stalking a woman, stealing drugs, and violating a restraining order.
John Meehan was in the hospital in 2014 for brain surgery.
