26-Year-Old Virginia Nurse Broke Newborn’s Leg as Hospital Investigates Unexplained Injuries
(Image: Henrico County Sheriff’s Office/)
A Virginia NICU nurse is facing serious charges after an investigation revealed she allegedly abused a premature baby and potentially others. Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, 26, has been charged with malicious wounding and felony child abuse related to a November 2023 incident at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond.
However, the scope of the abuse may be broader, as the hospital reported that three infants suffered “unexplained fractures” during that time, according to Law&Crime. Detectives from the Henrico County Police Division uncovered evidence implicating Strotman after reviewing dozens of NICU surveillance videos. The investigation has since expanded, with law enforcement combing through “hundreds of hours of footage” to identify any additional victims.
“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,” Henrico police Chief Eric D. English stated.
The investigation also revealed similar injuries to four other infants during the summer of 2023. One of these victims was Noah Hackey, a premature baby who sustained a broken tibia while in the NICU in August 2023.
Noah’s father, Dominique Hackey, told CBS affiliate WTVR that he and his family noticed discoloration on Noah’s left leg about two weeks after his birth. An x-ray confirmed a fractured tibia. The family filed a report with Child Protective Services, which concluded that an employee caused the injury but did not name the individual responsible.
Hackey expressed anger and frustration toward both the hospital and Strotman. “They failed strictly on multiple levels with multiple different families, and they need to be held accountable as well because that shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
“If they were suspicious of some person enough to let them go, they shouldn’t have brought them back. They failed, simple as that.” In response to the investigation, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital has temporarily closed its NICU and identified Strotman as a “former employee.”
“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,” the hospital said in a press release.
“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.”
