A Virginia NICU nurse, Erin Strotman, 26, has been arrested after seven babies at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond suffered inexplicable broken bones. Strotman faces felony child neglect and felony malicious woundingcharges for her role in injuries to at least one baby. The maximum penalties for the charges are 10 and 20 years in prison, respectively. Authorities have emphasized that their investigation into the other babies’ injuries is ongoing.
The injuries occurred over a span of several months: three babies were hurt in November and December 2023, while four more babies were injured in the summer of 2023. The Henrico County Police Division is conducting a “thorough investigation”, which includes reviewing “dozens of videos” from inside the NICU. Detective efforts are focused on both 2023 and 2024 cases as part of this broader inquiry.
One couple spoke publicly after their premature newborn twin suffered a fractured leg, with Virginia Child Servicesinforming them that their baby had been physically abused by a NICU employee. The father, Dominique Hackey, expressed his anger, saying, “It’s my baby boy. I feel like I’ve done nothing to protect him and that hurts. It pisses me off.” He added, “Somebody needs to be held accountable for my son, for everybody’s kid, somebody needs to be held accountable, it’s too many in such a short period of time.”
In response to the injuries, the hospital temporarily halted admitting newborns to its NICU on Christmas Eve, citing “an abundance of caution.” The hospital acknowledged that while fractures can occasionally occur in pre-term babies due to underdeveloped bones, they are actively investigating how these fractures occurred. The hospital also confirmed Strotman’s arrest, stating, “We are both shocked and saddened by this development.”
The case draws chilling parallels to the Lucy Letby case in the UK, where a neonatal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies, though no deaths have been reported in Virginia. Strotman appeared in court on Friday, is being held without bond, and has been barred from contact with children. Her next court appearance is set for March 24.
