Former Virginia NICU Nurse Accused of Abusing Premature Infants, Hospital Cited for Failing to Prevent Abuse

Former NICU nurse facing charges of infant abuse after investigation reveals failures at Virginia hospital.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA — A shocking investigation has revealed that a former NICU nurse at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital allegedly abused several premature infants over two years, leading to serious injuries and major failures within hospital protocols.

The Virginia Department of Health recently determined that Henrico Doctors’ Hospital failed to prevent abuse after 26-year-old Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman was charged in January with malicious wounding and felony child abuse. The allegations stem from multiple incidents that reportedly occurred between 2022 and 2024.

According to a report released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Strotman was captured on surveillance video violently handling newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Footage from November 10 showed her forcefully pushing an infant’s legs toward the child's chest and face multiple times, causing distress. In separate incidents, she was also seen allegedly pressing an infant’s head downward and handling babies by only their heads and legs. Investigators said the infants' heart rates spiked and oxygen levels dropped during these encounters.

Additional footage reportedly showed Strotman attempting to insert a suction device into a baby's nostril using the wrong equipment. Nurses reviewing the video expressed disbelief, with one staff member telling investigators, “We do not know why she is doing any of this.”

State investigators concluded that the hospital failed to prevent the abuse, did not correctly identify injuries of unknown origin as potential abuse, and neglected to report and investigate concerning injuries thoroughly. Notably, Strotman had previously been placed on administrative leave in September 2023 after four babies suffered unexplained fractures. She was reinstated after additional training.

Despite the hospital's corrective action plan, the new CMS report pointed to systemic failures. Hospital officials admitted changes have since been made, including updated security measures and enhanced reporting protocols. In a public statement, hospital leaders appreciated the regulators’ commitment to improving patient safety.

As investigations continued, prosecutors obtained text messages from Strotman revealing troubling admissions about her mental state. In one message, she described feeling "manic" and compared her behavior to "being on cocaine again" despite not using drugs. A day before her arrest, she allegedly texted that she was "five seconds away from checking herself into crisis."

Following her indictment, Strotman now faces six felony child abuse and neglect charges involving multiple victims. Court records show the new charges involve four infants who suffered injuries and a fifth infant who was placed in harm’s way but not physically harmed.

One of the victims was identified as Noah Hackey, a baby who suffered a broken tibia while in the NICU in 2023. Noah’s father, Dominique Hackey, said the hospital failed multiple families and should be held accountable for allowing Strotman to return to work after earlier incidents.

“Henrico Doctors' Hospital failed on multiple levels,” Hackey told reporters. “If they suspected someone enough to remove them, they should never have brought them back.”

Strotman, who is no longer employed at the hospital, remains bond-free as the criminal investigation expands. Henrico County Police continue to review hundreds of hours of surveillance footage to secure justice for every family affected.

The NICU briefly shut down during the investigation but has reopened under stricter protocols and oversight.

The heartbreaking revelations have rocked the Richmond community and raised national concerns about NICU safety protocols, mandated reporting responsibilities, and systemic accountability in healthcare institutions.