Home / Crime and Justice / Nurse Admits Rough Handling of NICU Babies
Nurse Admits Rough Handling of NICU Babies
18 Jan
Summary
- Nurse pleaded no contest to nine felony child abuse counts.
- She will be banned from nursing and working with children.
- Hospital NICU closed during investigation into infant injuries.
A nurse, Erin Strotman, has pleaded no contest to nine felony counts of child abuse for harming infants in a Virginia hospital's NICU. This plea agreement ensures she will never again work as a nurse or with children. The investigation began after several newborns suffered unexplained fractures, leading to the temporary closure of Henrico Doctors' Hospital's NICU in January 2025.
Prosecutors presented evidence detailing injuries to nine babies between 2022 and 2024. Strotman, arrested in January 2025, initially faced 20 charges. The plea deal, which does not admit guilt, mandates a maximum three-year prison sentence, with sentencing on June 5, 2026, allowing victims' families to testify. Hospital security footage showed Strotman handling infants roughly, including one instance on November 10, 2024, where she pressed down on a baby's legs forcefully, causing fractures.
In the wake of the incident, a Virginia Department of Health investigation found the hospital failed to report suspected abuse promptly. The NICU has since reopened after implementing corrective measures, including installing cameras and enhancing staff training. Strotman's defense acknowledged she likely caused some injuries but argued she did not intend to harm the children.
