A former hospital worker has been taken into custody by the police in connection with an investigation into the harm caused to several infants.
The Henrico Police Department has named 26-year-old Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman as a suspect in the case involving injuries to the babies.
The hospital confirmed that Strotman previously worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Virginia’s Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, but did not specify her exact role.
Strotman, who resides in Chesterfield County, faces charges of malicious wounding and felony child abuse related to an incident that reportedly took place in late November or possibly December.
Following Strotman’s arrest, the hospital released a statement and assured continued cooperation with the investigation.
In a statement dated January 3, 2025, the hospital stated: “There has been an ongoing investigation into fractures sustained by patients in our NICU, and this morning, the Henrico County Police Department arrested a former employee of the hospital in connection with that investigation.
“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 statement also expressed gratitude to the hospital staff dedicated to patient care and safety, as well as to law enforcement and other agencies involved in the investigation: “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.”
The hospital had previously indicated that there were earlier incidents of baby injuries back in 2023.
A statement released on the hospital’s website on Christmas Eve reported: “In late November/December, we discovered that three babies in our Henrico Doctors’ Hospital NICU had unexplainable fractures, similar to an incident involving four babies in the summer of 2023.”
One of the affected babies’ parents has voiced concerns about the delay in achieving ‘justice’.
Dominique Hackey, a father of one of the babies, spoke to NBC News, saying: “Whatever was done in the dark comes to the light. Sometimes you don’t necessarily want to know what was done.”
Reflecting on the arrested nurse, he noted: “I remember her being in the room, she was friendly, she answered questions, but she didn’t stay and talk like the other NICU nurses did, she wasn’t family like the other nurses.”
He also expressed that the hospital should be accountable for the situation.
Strotman had been placed on paid administrative leave for a year following the 2023 incidents but was allowed to return to the hospital in late 2024.