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Virginia police have arrested a registered nurse in connection with a twisted attack that left a vulnerable newborn in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit with an “unexplainable fracture” in November – and additional charges could come as detectives continue to probe a half dozen similar incidents.
The 26-year-old suspect, Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, was booked into the Henrico County Jail on charges of malicious wounding and child abuse that caused serious injury around 1:15 a.m. Friday.
A perplexing string of injuries to babies in the NICU at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond in November and December prompted officials to launch an internal investigation and close the unit to new patients on Christmas Eve.
They also turned over hours of surveillance video to police, who were still going through footage after arresting Strotman in connection with an incident that happened on Nov. 10.
“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 Chief of Police Eric English said in a statement. “I would also like to acknowledge the unwavering efforts of our detectives who continue to comb through hundreds of hours of footage and extend my sincere gratitude to Henrico’s Child Protective Services (Department of Social Services), the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Office of the Attorney General for their assistance in this matter.”
Charges have not been filed in Hackey’s case, but police said they are actively collecting evidence in all of the remaining incidents.
Finally we can get some answers as to who abused our son. I wish I could say it was a happy moment learning of her arrest, however, learning the details involving the other babies, the only feeling I have is sadness and regret.
Strotman is a resident of Midlothian, a suburb of Richmond, and authorities are looking at her in connection with a number of similar cases between 2023 and 2024, Henrico police said Friday – including inactive cases.
“All of the previously closed cases related to these incidents have been reopened,” police said in a statement. “All of the families involved in this current broader investigation have been notified.”
Due to health care privacy laws, authorities said they could not release many additional details.
A Google Maps image shows the hospital’s ambulance bay. Authorities have increased safety measures as police say a registered nurse is responsible for at least one attack on a newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit. (Google Maps)
“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,” HCA Healthcare, which owns the hospital, said in a statement.
With additional charges possible, police are asking anyone with information to contact detectives at police@henrico.gov, visit P3tips.com or call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
Court records show Strotman’s prior run-ins with the law involved only minor traffic offenses.
She was scheduled for arraignment Friday morning at the Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
As for the Hackey family, their son has since recovered from his fracture and is doing well.
“He is a very adventurous little boy,” his father said.
