- The police have reported that a woman was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into several infants experiencing "unexplainable fractures" in 2023 and 2024 at Henrico Doctors' Hospital in Virginia.
- Elizabeth Ann Strotman, a 26-year-old from Chesterfield County, has been identified as a suspect in an incident from last November.
- According to a police news release obtained by PEOPLE, Strotman is charged with malicious wounding and felony child abuse.
Authorities have made an arrest following the initiation of an investigation by a Virginia hospital into multiple infants who sustained "unexplainable fractures" in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital stated in a news release on December 24, 2024, that they would pause admissions into their NICU after three infants were discovered with fractures in late November and December.
The hospital mentioned that these injuries were "similar to an incident involving four infants during the summer of 2023."
On Friday, January 3, Henrico County Police announced in a news release obtained by PEOPLE that Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, 26, from Chesterfield County, was named as a suspect in the case.
The release stated that "Ms. Strotman is charged with malicious wounding and felony child abuse related to an incident in November 2024."
The ongoing investigation includes reviewing numerous videos from within the NICU. As previously noted, detectives are re-examining cases from 2023 and 2024 as part of this comprehensive investigation.
Henrico Police Chief Eric D. English expressed gratitude in the release, saying, "We thank the families and the public for their patience as we work meticulously and swiftly to investigate all evidence associated with these cases."
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| A photo of Henrico Doctors' Hospital. |
He also commended the dedication of the detectives, who continue to meticulously review extensive footage, and thanked Henrico's Child Protective Services, the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Office of the Attorney General for their support.
HCA Virginia confirmed to PEOPLE that the suspect, who was apprehended as part of the investigation, was a former employee at the hospital.
"We are shocked and saddened by this development and remain committed to caring for our patients and supporting our colleagues who have been profoundly affected by this investigation," the statement read.
"We are grateful to our dedicated colleagues who prioritize the care and safety of our patients, as well as to law enforcement and the various agencies who have worked diligently with us on this investigation," it concluded.
HCA Virginia has concluded that for over three decades, the NICU at Henrico Doctors' Hospital has been offering vital and life-saving care for infants in central Virginia, and they continue to prioritize the availability of this care in the community.
In a December news release, the hospital expanded on recent incidents, stating that a comprehensive internal investigation was initiated, families were informed, and relevant authorities and regulatory bodies were notified. The hospital collaborated with these entities during their investigations.
According to the release, while fractures can occur in pre-term babies due to incomplete fetal bone development, efforts are underway to understand the causes of these recent fractures.
The hospital emphasized that immediate actions have been taken to improve safety measures in the NICU. These measures include enhanced safety training programs, comprehensive examinations of each NICU baby, new security systems, live-streaming technology, and more.
They asserted that the safety of NICU babies is their utmost priority, and they are actively working on additional precautions to avoid any future incidents.
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| A stock image of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. |
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In 2023, Noah Hackey was among the infants who suffered an injury, with his parents, Tori and Dominique, discovering his fractured tibia while he was in the hospital’s NICU in September of that year.
The couple received a letter from Henrico’s Department of Social Services, which indicated that “following a thorough CPS investigation, this agency has determined the disposition of this report to be founded level 1 for physical abuse of Noah by an employee of Henrico Doctor’s Hospital NICU,” according to local CBS-affiliated station WTVR.
The employee responsible has not been identified at this time.
Dominique, Noah’s father, informed the outlet, "We are eagerly waiting to hear that the person responsible has been identified.