A new documentary series reveals the harrowing true story of an American missionary accused of the deaths of more than 100 children.
Renée Bach, 39, nicknamed the Angel of Death, is at the center of HBO’s new three-part series, Savior Complex.
The evangelist, originally from Virginia, established a nonprofit “malnutrition rehabilitation center” in Uganda in 2009, but was later accused of providing unlicensed — and allegedly deadly — medical care.
Renée, who was prosecuted for several deaths, told the program: “I think some of the most outlandish accusations made about me were that I killed 800 children, that I did medical experiments on children, about Adolf Hitler and thought I was part of the KKK.’
Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the disturbing realities of the unfolding tragedy.
Renée Bach, 39, nicknamed the Angel of Death, is at the center of HBO’s new three-part series, Savior Complex.
The evangelist, originally from Virginia, established a nonprofit “malnutrition rehabilitation center” in Uganda in 2009, but was later accused of providing unlicensed — and allegedly deadly — care.
Renée, who was sued by two African mothers over the deaths of their children, told HBO: “I think some of the craziest accusations made against me were that I killed 800 children.”
Renée, who was a “homeschooled missionary,” first traveled to Jinja, Uganda, for a 10-month trip as a teenager in 2007 – but she soon felt “called by God” to do more.
“I just started seeing malnutrition everywhere. Many children came for help,” she told the program.
As a result, the then 19-year-old returned to the country in 2009 and “decided to establish a malnutrition rehabilitation center.”
She started “a nongovernmental organization with money raised through her church in Bedford, Virginia,” according to The New Yorker.
The Serving His Children clinic aimed to combat malnutrition in impoverished areas by providing free meals and creating community engagement programs.
Renee also set up a blog to document the charity’s ongoing work – but her posts, which will later be presented as evidence against her in court, indicated she was doing more despite having no medical training.
“I hooked the baby up to oxygen and got to work,” she wrote in 2011. “I took his temperature, started an IV, checked his blood sugar, tested for malaria, and examined his (hemoglobin) level.”
Witnesses also accused Renée of performing medical procedures – such as inserting catheters and administering drugs – on babies and children, saying she walked around “dressed in a clinical gown” with a “stethoscope around his neck”.
Renée, who was a “homeschooled missionary,” first traveled to Jinja, Uganda, for a 10-month trip as a teenager in 2007 – but she soon felt “called by God” to do more.
As a result, the 19-year-old returned to the country in 2009 and “decided to establish a malnutrition rehabilitation center.”
Former volunteer Jacqueline Grace Kramlich, RN, spoke with ABC News and alleged that Renee “didn’t believe Ugandan doctors knew what they were talking about” and instead looked up the treatments online.
In the documentary, others also claimed she acted “like she was medical staff” but revealed she was “not qualified.”
And when a former nurse who worked with Renee is asked if she believes he’s a murderer, she begins to speak before interrupting herself to say, “Oh my God, that’s a good question.”
From 2010 to 2015, Renee said the center took in 940 children – but 105 of them died, according to NPR.
The facility was increasingly plagued by problems and authorities were forced to close it.
In January 2019, the first civil case was filed against Renee at the Jinja High Court.
Gimbo Zubeda’s three-year-old son and Kakai Annet’s one-year-old son died after being treated at the Serving His Children center.
Annet said at the time: “I feel that her life has been ripped from my arms by the actions of Ms. Renée Bach.”
The following year, without accepting responsibility, Renee and the organization agreed to pay the mothers 35,000,000 Ugandan shillings each – approximately $9,000 – according to The Guardian.
Renee, who witnesses said was walking around “dressed in a clinical gown” with a “stethoscope around her neck,” was accused of performing medical procedures such as inserting catheters and administering medications .
It was also alleged that Renée “didn’t believe Ugandan doctors knew what they were talking about” and instead looked up the treatments online.
Speculation continued to swirl and Renée was subsequently denounced as the Angel of Death on social media as the clamor against “white saviors” only grew louder.
However, shortly after, four other families filed a lawsuit against the American missionary, seeking compensation and an apology, as well as criminal charges against Renée.
Speculation continued to swirl and Renée was subsequently denounced as the Angel of Death on social media.
It also fueled clamors against “white saviors” and the ethics of foreign aid work conducted “in the name of humanitarian and religious ideals.”
She returned to America and reportedly has no intention of returning to Uganda.
Renée now lives with her two daughters, one of whom is a Ugandan Renée adopted after being brought to the now-defunct center, the New Yorker said.
In the trailer for the upcoming documentary, Renée concluded: “I believe she saved lives. Hundreds and hundreds.
“I feel like I took the hit for every white person in Uganda. I didn’t kill any children.
Savior Complex is available to stream now on HBO Max
