Virginia NICU nurse arrested after babies sustain fractures at hospital

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (TCN) — Authorities recently arrested and charged a nurse after infant patients in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) sustained unexplainable fractures.

According to Henrico County Police, detectives learned of an internal investigation at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and began working on the case. WTVR-TV reports the hospital temporarily halted admissions to the NICU after three victims were found with fractures in November and December.

Police identified 26-year-old Erin Strotman as a suspect. She faces charges of malicious wounding and felony child abuse and was booked into the Henrico County Jail on Jan. 3.

As part of the investigation, officials are reviewing videos from inside the NICU and reexamining similar incidents at the hospital from 2023.

Per Virginia Department of Social Services records reviewed by WTVR, in 2023, Strotman was placed on paid administrative leave following an internal investigation. Strotman reportedly had contact with babies who suffered injuries in the NICU at the time.

Strotman reportedly no longer works for the hospital.

In a statement, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital said, “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. 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.”

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