A registered nurse in Virginia has been arrested and charged with malicious wounding and child abuse resulting in serious injury to a newborn in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Police are investigating a series of similar incidents involving infants at Henrico Doctors' Hospital in Richmond, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
26-year-old Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman was taken into custody early Friday morning. The arrest follows an internal investigation launched by the hospital after a series of unexplained fractures were discovered in three babies between November and December 2024, echoing a similar set of incidents involving four infants during the summer of 2023. The NICU was subsequently closed to new admissions on Christmas Eve.
Strotman's nursing license, issued in 2019, is valid until May 2026. The father of one of the injured infants, Dominique Hackey, expressed both relief and sadness upon learning of the arrest, highlighting the emotional toll the situation has taken on the families involved. He voiced regret for not speaking up sooner, hoping to prevent further harm to other children.
Hackey initially shared his story with local news last month, detailing the baffling circumstances surrounding his son's tibia fracture in September 2023. His mother, a former NICU nurse, reported the injury to Child Protective Services. A year later, they were informed that the injury was the result of abuse by a hospital employee. In October, police revealed the existence of other similar cases.
The hospital implemented enhanced security measures, including new surveillance systems, increased staff training, and a “buddy system” requiring two clinicians to be present in a baby’s room at all times. They also provided hours of surveillance footage to investigators. While hospital officials acknowledged that fractures can occur in premature infants, the cluster of similar injuries raised serious concerns.
Police confirmed that they are actively investigating all related incidents, including previously closed cases, and have notified the affected families. Due to patient privacy laws, details remain limited. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Strotman is a resident of Midlothian, a Richmond suburb, and is being investigated in connection with multiple similar incidents between 2023 and 2024. Hackey confirmed that his son has fully recovered and is thriving.
