Virginia Nurse Arrested After Mysterious Injuries to Babies in NICU Spark Investigation

[Social Media]

 

A Virginia hospital was thrust into crisis after unexplained injuries to newborns in its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) led to a disturbing discovery. Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, located near Richmond, first noticed troubling patterns in the summer of 2023 when four babies suffered mysterious fractures. The alarming trend resurfaced in November, when three more infants in the NICU experienced similar injuries.  

 

The hospital, grappling with the safety of its youngest patients, took immediate action, including halting new NICU admissions and enhancing security measures. A breakthrough in the investigation came last week with the arrest of 26-year-old registered nurse Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman. She has been charged with malicious wounding and felony child abuse.  

 

Henrico County Police, in a news release, revealed that Strotman’s arrest is connected to an incident in November. They also announced that all cases of mysteriously injured babies from 2023 and 2024 have been reopened. Authorities are meticulously reviewing hundreds of hours of surveillance footage to understand what happened to at least seven babies during this time. “We are committed to protecting our residents, particularly our youngest and most vulnerable,” the police stated.  

 

At Strotman’s arraignment on Friday, families of three injured children attended, but they did not comment publicly. Her attorney, Scott Cardani, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.  

 

In a statement, the hospital expressed both sorrow and resolve, emphasizing their commitment to patient care and safety. “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,” hospital leadership stated.  

 

Since the initial discovery of the injuries, the hospital has implemented several new safety protocols. These include additional training for NICU caregivers on recognizing and reporting abuse, comprehensive examinations for every NICU baby, and new security measures such as live-streaming technology that allows parents to monitor their infants in real time. Caregivers are now also subject to an observer system, ensuring they are never alone with a baby.  

 

“While fractures occasionally happen with pre-term babies since they lack full fetal bone development, we are actively working to determine how these fractures occurred,” the hospital noted.

 

Henrico Doctors’ Hospital confirmed that it will not admit new babies into its NICU until the investigation is complete. The hospital thanked law enforcement and its staff for their dedication during this challenging time, stating, “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.”  

 

Strotman’s next court date is scheduled for March 24, as the investigation continues to unfold. Families and authorities alike await answers about what led to the unthinkable injuries inflicted on these vulnerable newborns.

 

Based on a report by WP 2024-01-07

 

 

[Watawattana]

Makes me feel sick.