Introduction

A former neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse in Virginia has been sentenced to prison after pleading no contest to serious allegations involving the mistreatment of premature infants under her care at a hospital, where multiple babies were reported to have suffered unexplained injuries.

Biography Section

Name

Erin Strotman

Age

27 years old

Profession

Former NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) nurse

Career Background

Erin Strotman previously worked in the neonatal intensive care unit at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Virginia, where she was responsible for caring for premature and medically fragile newborns.

Incident Overview

Location

Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Virginia, United States

Time Period

2023 to 2024

Nature of Allegations

Strotman was accused of abusing nine premature infants who were under her care in the NICU. The case came under investigation after several babies were found to have suffered “unexplained fractures,” raising concerns within the hospital and prompting an internal and criminal investigation.

Investigation and Evidence

Hospital authorities initiated a formal review after multiple infants were discovered with similar injuries, including cases reported in late 2024 and earlier incidents dating back to 2023.

Law enforcement later expanded the investigation, reviewing additional cases after initial findings suggested a possible pattern of harm. Surveillance footage was reportedly used as part of the evidence, allegedly showing inappropriate handling of infants that resulted in injuries such as broken bones.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Arrest

Strotman was arrested on January 3, 2025, in connection with an incident involving a baby treated in November 2024.

Charges

She faced multiple counts of child abuse and malicious wounding related to nine separate infant victims.

Plea Outcome

On January 15, she entered a no contest plea as part of a plea agreement. Although she was given a maximum potential sentence of 45 years (five years per affected infant), the final punishment was suspended and reduced to a three-year prison term.

Court Sentence and Professional Ban

Following sentencing, Strotman was officially taken into custody and booked into jail. In addition to imprisonment, her nursing license was permanently revoked, and she was barred from working in any healthcare-related profession in the future.

Hospital and Official Response

Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and affiliated healthcare authorities expressed shock and concern over the allegations. The institution stated that it remained committed to patient safety and was cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies during the investigation.

Officials also temporarily restricted admissions to the NICU during the investigation period after multiple infants were found with injuries resembling earlier cases.

Defense Argument

Strotman’s legal team argued that her actions were not intended to harm the infants. They claimed that any improper handling resulted from techniques she had previously been taught during her professional training, rather than intentional abuse.

Impact on Families

One of the affected infants, Noah Hackey, suffered a fractured tibia while receiving care in the NICU. His family later received confirmation from child protective services that the injury was classified as founded physical abuse linked to hospital staff.

Conclusion

The case has raised serious concerns about patient safety protocols in neonatal care units and led to permanent professional consequences for the former nurse. The investigation highlighted multiple incidents of infant injuries that resulted in criminal charges, legal proceedings, and a prison sentence following her plea agreement.