Inset: Erin Strotman (Henrico County Jail). Background: Henrico Doctors’ Hospital (Google Maps).
A nurse working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a hospital in Virginia has been arrested for harming a premature baby, and there may be more victims involved.
The nurse, Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, aged 26, is facing charges of malicious wounding and felony child abuse related to an incident that took place in November at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond. However, it seems that Strotman’s alleged actions may have affected more than just one baby. The hospital reported that in November, three babies experienced “unexplained fractures.” Additionally, during the summer of 2023, four other babies suffered similar injuries.
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After reviewing numerous videos from the NICU, investigators from the Henrico County Police Division were able to identify Strotman as the perpetrator. The detectives are currently sifting through a large amount of evidence, which includes “hundreds of hours of footage,” in the hopes of bringing justice to every baby who was subjected to abuse.
“We appreciate the families’ and public’s patience as we work as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible to investigate every piece of evidence in connection to these cases,” Henrico police Chief Eric D. English said in a statement.
The hospital in a press release described Strotman as a “former employee.” As a precaution, the hospital shut down its NICU as the investigation unfurls.
“We are both shocked and saddened by this development in the investigation and are focused on continuing to care for our patients and providing support to our colleagues who have been deeply and personally impacted by this investigation,” the statement said. “We are grateful to those colleagues, who have dedicated their professional lives to the care and safety of our patients, as well as to law enforcement and the other agencies who have worked aggressively and tirelessly with us on this investigation.”
One of the babies allegedly abused in the summer of 2023 was Noah Hackey, who suffered a broken tibia. His father Dominque Hackey explained to Richmond CBS affiliate WTVR that Noah and his twin Micah were born prematurely at the hospital in August 2023 and spent time together in the NICU.
When Noah was about two weeks old they noticed some discoloration in his left leg. An x-ray unveiled a fracture of the tibia. The family filed a report with Child Protective Services, which determined an employee was responsible for breaking the boy’s leg, but not which employee it was.
Hackey was flabbergasted that his son wasn’t the only one allegedly abused.
“They failed strictly on multiple levels with multiple different families, and they need to be held accountable as well because that shouldn’t have happened,” he told WTVR. “If they were suspicious of some person enough to let them go they shouldn’t have brought them back. They failed, simple as that.”
Cops arrested Strotman on Thursday night and booked her into the Henrico County Jail early Friday where she’s being held without bond. Her next court date is scheduled for March 24.
