Authorities in Virginia have arrested a 26-year-old hospital worker after three babies in the neonatal intensive care unit suffered from "unexplainable fractures."
Police charged Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman of Chesterfield County with malicious wounding and felony child abuse in connection with the incident. At the time, she was employed at Henrico Doctors' Hospital.
If found guilty, the 26-year-old registered nurse will face a maximum of 10 years in prison for child neglect and 20 years for malicious wounding, per The New York Times, citing court records and Henrico County's commonwealth attorney Shannon Taylor.
What Happened at the NICU?
In 2023, the hospital began noticing that four of the newborn babies in its care were suffering unexplained injuries. They later saw similar unexplained fractures in three babies in the NICU in November 2024.
The injuries prompted the hospital to conduct internal investigations, leading to Strotman's arrest.
Not much is known about the nurse's role in the injuries. Neither Henrico Doctors' Hospital nor the police have released details about the incident. However, it was reported that authorities are currently combing through hundreds of hours of surveillance footage from the hospital to determine what exactly happened to the seven babies.
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Additionally, the hospital announced that its NICU caregivers will be undergoing increased safety training as well as a new program that would help them identify and report child abuse or neglect. The hospital also said it will provide additional head-to-toe examinations for all NICU babies.
Furthermore, Henrico Doctors' said it would install two new security systems that would allow the parents of NICU babies to watch their child in real-time, per the Washington Post.
The hospital is currently not accepting new babies into the NICU while the incidents are still under investigation.
Where Is Strotman Now?
Strotman is currently being held without bond in Henrico County Regional Jail West. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 24.
