A nurse has been arrested after multiple babies suffered serious fractures at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.
Erin Elizabeth Strotman, 26, was charged with malicious wounding and felony child abuse following a series of incidents in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), police reported on Friday.
Multiple NICU babies from the same Virginia hospital were diagnosed with ‘unexplainable fractures’ in 2023 and 2024.
Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman (26) has been arrested. She is facing charges of malicious wounding and felony child abuse at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.
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The investigation into the injuries began after a disturbing pattern of unexplained fractures occurred in the NICU.
Police confirmed that they are reviewing video footage from inside the unit and have re-examined cases from 2023 and 2024 as part of the broader investigation.
According to Henrico County Police Division, the investigation is ongoing and is utilizing all available resources to ensure a thorough review of the situation.
Strotman, a Virginia native, is a registered nurse who graduated in 2019. Authorities launched the investigation after a Virginia couple spoke out about their newborn’s injury.
The couple was informed by Virginia Child Services that their baby had suffered a fractured leg at the hands of a NICU employee following his premature birth.
The first troubling incidents occurred in the summer of 2023, when four babies were found with fractures.
Three additional babies were hurt in November and December of the same year.
Nurse Arrested for Allegedly Fracturing Multiple Babies’ Bones in Virginia NICU
A nurse has been arrested after multiple babies suffered serious fractures at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.
Erin Elizabeth Strotman, 26, was charged with malicious wounding and… pic.twitter.com/hzvOW4cKYn
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While no deaths have been reported, the case has raised serious concerns similar to the high-profile case of British nurse Lucy Letby, who was convicted of multiple child murders.
The Henrico Doctors’ Hospital case, however, remains under investigation, with authorities yet to determine the specific cause of the injuries.
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, which has 40 treatment areas in its NICU, delivers around 4,500 babies annually.
Hospital officials acknowledged that fractures occasionally occur, but the recent incidents raised alarm.
To investigate further, police are reviewing surveillance footage and looking for signs of misconduct or unreported accidents.
Out of an abundance of caution, the hospital has temporarily halted admissions to the NICU while the investigation continues. “We are working closely with law enforcement and other agencies to uncover all the facts,” the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital has also implemented additional safeguards, including increased camera surveillance in the NICU and additional staff training.
Dominique and Tori Hackey, parents of twin boys Noah and Micah, were among the families affected by the mysterious injuries.
After Noah was born in August 2023, his parents noticed that his left leg was not moving and appeared discolored. An X-ray confirmed that Noah had a fractured tibia.
The Hackeys were told the injury could have been accidental, potentially caused by a hard injection. However, Dominique Hackey expressed concern over the possibility of the hospital blaming them for the injury.
In response to the injury, Dominique contacted child services, which later confirmed the fracture was the result of physical abuse by an employee at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.
A letter from Virginia Child Services stated that the abuse was classified as “level 1 physical abuse,” the highest level of abuse in the state.
In October, police informed the Hackeys that other babies had been injured at the hospital, though the identity of the responsible individual remained unclear.
The hospital had already implemented preventive measures such as increased surveillance and training, but these measures failed to stop further incidents.
As a result, the NICU unit was shut down in October after three more babies were injured in November and December.
Maria Reppas, the communications director for the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), stated that the department is working closely with the hospital and law enforcement. “The health and safety of those receiving care in this NICU has and will continue to be our top priority,” Reppas said.
The VDH, in partnership with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is closely monitoring corrective actions and working with the Henrico Police Department and Virginia State Police to ensure the safety of the babies in the NICU.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injuries is ongoing, and authorities are working diligently to identify any lapses in safety protocols and hold those responsible accountable.
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