Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, has shut down its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) following a series of bone fractures suffered by seven infants under suspicious circumstances. The injuries, which include a fractured leg in one baby, have sparked an investigation by local authorities.
The issue first came to light when Dominique and Tori Hackey, parents of twin boys Noah and Micah, were informed that their newborn son Noah had suffered a fractured tibia while in the NICU. A nurse noticed Noah’s left leg wasn’t moving properly and was discolored, prompting an X-ray that confirmed the fracture. Hospital staff initially suggested the injury might have been caused by an accidental mishap during an injection.
However, concerned about the possibility of abuse, the Hackeys contacted child services, and the subsequent investigation found that Noah’s injury was a result of physical abuse by a hospital employee. A letter from child services, sent to the Hackeys in September 2024, confirmed the abuse had occurred, classifying it as level 1 physical abuse.
As police began investigating the case, they discovered that other infants at the hospital had suffered similar unexplained injuries. The NICU, where these incidents occurred, has now been closed while hospital officials review video footage, but as of now, no perpetrators have been identified.
The hospital has not released further information on the investigation, and the community is left with unanswered questions regarding the safety of vulnerable newborns in the hospital’s care.