Virginia NICU Nurse Arrested After Series of Mysterious Infant Injuries

Seven Male Babies Suffered Unexplained Injuries at Richmond Hospital Since 2023

Police arrested former neonatal intensive care nurse Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, 26, last week after a pattern of mysterious injuries to newborn boys emerged at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Investigators identified seven potential abuse cases spanning 2023 and 2024. Strotman faces charges of malicious wounding and felony child abuse connected to a November 2024 incident as police examine hundreds of hours of surveillance footage for additional cases.

5 Key Points

• Seven male infants suffered unexplained injuries at the hospital’s NICU between 2023-2024.
• Former nurse Erin Strotman faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on current charges.
• The hospital suspended all new NICU admissions during the ongoing investigation.
• Police confirmed victims included both twins and single births of various races.
• Child Protective Services confirmed abuse occurred in at least one 2023 case.

Parent’s Nightmare Begins with Twins’ Early Birth

After experiencing two previous miscarriages, Dominique and Tori Hackey chose Henrico Doctors’ Hospital for its reputation when their twins arrived prematurely in September 2023. Born at 28 weeks, Micah and Noah weighed just two and three pounds. Seven days after birth, staff discovered Noah had suffered a fractured left tibia. “I was confused and heartbroken,” said Dominique Hackey, 33. “I’m a first-time parent. I have no background in the medical field. You’re telling me my baby has a fracture?” Fearing blame, Hackey declined to hold his injured son that day.

Investigation Reveals Pattern of Abuse

The hospital initially attributed Noah’s injury to an injection procedure, but Hackey’s mother, a director of nursing at another facility, demonstrated the improbability of this explanation. She contacted Child Protective Services on the family’s behalf. Though police initially closed the case in January 2024, CPS confirmed in September 2024 that Noah had been abused. Shannon Taylor, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Henrico County, revealed investigators are examining seven potential abuse cases: three from 2024 and four from 2023. According to Hackey, who spoke with other affected families, the 2023 incidents occurred in July, August, and two in September.

Hospital Responds to Crisis

Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, which has provided NICU care for over 30 years, expressed shock at the developments. “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,” the hospital stated. The facility suspended new NICU admissions and now assesses, stabilizes, and transfers babies requiring intensive care to other facilities. The hospital’s statement emphasized its three-decade legacy of providing “necessary and life-saving care to babies in central Virginia.”

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Families Unite as Investigation Deepens

Police Chief Eric D. English confirmed investigators are reviewing hundreds of hours of NICU surveillance footage, explicitly addressing social media speculation about victim targeting. “The preliminary investigation indicates this information is not factual,” police stated regarding claims of racial targeting. The affected families, meeting for the first time at Strotman’s arraignment, shared tears and embraces. “We’ve found that it’s easier to heal together than to try to go through all this individually, especially because there are still a lot of missing pieces,” Hackey explained.

Recovery and Ongoing Impact

The Hackey twins, now 16 months old, demonstrate contrasting personalities. Noah, despite his early trauma, is “certainly walking, climbing” and received physical therapy after leaving the hospital. His brother Micah remains “mellow, introverted and observant,” watching YouTube educator Ms. Rachel between snacks of peanut butter puffs. Parents recall Strotman primarily for her distinctive bangs hairstyle, with Hackey noting, “When I saw her face, I was completely shocked because I don’t remember having any conversations with her.”

Legal Proceedings Continue

Strotman, held without bail until her March 24 court appearance, faces maximum sentences of 20 years for malicious wounding and 10 years for felony child abuse. While currently charged in one November 2024 incident, investigators continue examining other cases. Police possess surveillance footage of the November incident and are searching for evidence in different cases. “I want to see her go to prison for the rest of her life. That’s the least she deserves,” Hackey stated at the arraignment, where he “could not stop the tears from flowing.”