Woman, 26, Charged with Felony Child Abuse After Multiple Babies Suffer 'Unexplainable Fractures' in NICU

Mar. 15, 2025

Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman.Photo:Henrico County Sheriff’s Office

Henrico County Sheriff’s Office

She had been arrested the day prior, the statement from Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor added.

The injuries were “similar to an incident involving four babies in the summer of 2023,” the release added at the time.

Henrico Doctors' Hospital.Google Maps

Google Maps

In Friday’s statement, Taylor said “The maximum statutory penalty for felony child neglect is 10 years of incarceration and the maximum statutory penalty for felony malicious wounding is 20 years of incarceration.”

“The defendant was employed as a nurse at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital at all times relevant to this investigation, but it is our understanding that she is no longer employed there,” she continued.

HCA Virginia also confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement that the suspect was a former employee.

Defense attorney Scott Cardani, who is representing Strotman, didn’t immediately respond when PEOPLE contacted his law firm, Critzer Cardani PC, to ask whether the suspect had entered a plea.

“The Commonwealth objected to bond and the court denied bond. While the defendant remains held at the Henrico County Jail, the court further ordered the defendant to have no contact with any child under the age of 18. The next court date is March 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. [local time],” Taylor’s statement read.

“While there has been an arrest for one person for allegedly inflicting injury on a single victim, I would emphasize this is an ongoing investigation spanning potential offenses committed in both 2023 and 2024,” the statement continued.

Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman.Henrico County Sheriff’s Office

“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 statement added.

“For more than 30 years, the NICU at Henrico Doctors' Hospital has provided necessary and life-saving care to babies in central Virginia and we remain focused on ensuring the availability of that care in our community,” it concluded.

A stock photo of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.Nenov/Getty

Nenov/Getty

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Henrico Police Department previously told PEOPLE in a news release that officers had been “reviewing dozens of videos from inside the NICU. As previously mentioned, detectives are re-examining the 2023 and 2024 cases as part of this broader investigation.”

Police have also insisted that rumors the alleged victims were targeted based on their racial identity are “not factual” based on the “preliminary investigation,” per arelease.

source: people.com