A Virginia nurse has been arrested and charged with child abuse after several newborns suffered fractures while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a local hospital. Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, 26, is facing charges of malicious wounding and felony child abuse related to incidents that occurred over more than a year at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, according to the Henrico County Police Division.
Strotman was working as a nurse at the time of the injuries, including one case on November 10, when a baby was injured. Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor confirmed that while an arrest has been made, the investigation is ongoing and could involve additional incidents from both 2023 and 2024. Police said that Strotman was arrested early Friday and remained in jail without bond as of Tuesday. Her court appearance is set for March 24.
Strotman’s attorney, Scott Cardani, has not commented on the charges. The hospital made a statement saying that in late November and December, three babies in the NICU were found with unexplained fractures. These injuries were similar to an earlier incident in the summer of 2023, where four babies were also found with fractures.
The hospital began an internal investigation and alerted authorities, including the Henrico County Police, who opened their investigation on December 26. Police later announced that prior cases involving injuries to babies had been reopened as part of the broader investigation.
The hospital confirmed that Strotman had been arrested in connection with the investigation, and they have been cooperating with law enforcement throughout the process. They expressed their shock and sadness at the situation and stressed that their focus remains on patient care and supporting staff affected by the investigation.
As of now, Strotman is only charged in relation to the November 10 incident, but detectives are reviewing other possible injuries involving babies at the NICU. Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, law enforcement has not disclosed the exact number of victims or the full details of the incidents.
In addition to local law enforcement, several state agencies, including the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Health Department, Child Protective Services, and the Attorney General’s Office, are all involved in the investigation.
Strotman, a resident of Chesterfield County, received her nursing license in May 2019, and as of Tuesday, her license remains active. The hospital confirmed that Strotman is a former employee, but they did not specify how long she worked there.
To ensure the safety of newborns, the hospital has decided not to admit any more babies to its NICU for the time being. Babies in need of NICU care will be assessed and transferred to other facilities as necessary. The hospital has also implemented new safety measures, including installing security systems in the NICU rooms to monitor activity.
Henrico Police Chief Eric D. English said detectives have reviewed hundreds of hours of footage as part of the investigation, and they are re-examining incidents from both 2023 and 2024.
He acknowledged the emotional impact of the case on the community and asked for patience as detectives continued their work to examine all the evidence. If Strotman is convicted on all charges, she could face up to 30 years in prison.
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