Former Henrico Virginia NICU Nurse Charged With Abusing Babies

In a troubling development that has drawn both local and national attention, a former hospital worker has been arrested in connection with an incident that left three babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Henrico Doctors’ Hospital with unexplainable fractures. Henrico Police identified the suspect as 26-year-old Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman of Chesterfield County. Strotman is facing charges of malicious wounding and felony child abuse related to the late 2024 incident.

According to a news release published on Friday, the fractures were discovered in late November or possibly December, during what officials describe as a thorough investigation initiated by Henrico Doctors’ Hospital. The hospital promptly informed the affected families, notified the proper authorities, and collaborated with regulatory agencies to address the matter.

Hospital Response and Preventive Measures

HCA Virginia, which operates Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, confirmed that Strotman was a former employee. However, they have not disclosed the nature of her role at the facility. In a statement posted on December 24, the hospital acknowledged the incident, stating, “In late November/December, we discovered that three babies in our Henrico Doctors’ Hospital NICU had unexplainable fractures, similar to an incident involving four babies in the summer of 2023.”

Out of an abundance of caution, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital has suspended new admissions to its NICU and has implemented additional safety measures. These include installing live-streaming technology and requiring all caregivers to undergo enhanced safety training programs. HCA Virginia expressed its shock and sadness over the development, emphasizing their commitment to patient care and employee support.

“For more than 30 years, the NICU at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital has provided necessary and life-saving care to babies in central Virginia, and we remain focused on ensuring the availability of that care in our community,” said Laura Petrosky, assistant vice president of strategic communications for HCA Virginia.

Ongoing Investigation

Henrico Police have announced that they are re-examining similar cases from both 2023 and 2024 as part of a broader investigation. Henrico Chief Eric D. English urged patience from the public and the families involved, stating, “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.”

If found guilty, Ms. Strotman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the felony child neglect charge and 20 years for the malicious wounding charge, Shannon Taylor, the Henrico County’s commonwealth’s attorney, said in a statement.

The incident has sparked widespread concern, and questions remain about how these events occurred and how they can be prevented in the future. Habari Entertainment will continue to monitor this story and provide updates as they become available.