Former NICU nurse gets 3 years for breaking the bones of 9 infants

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (TCN) -- A former neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse has been sentenced to three years behind bars after pleading no contest to the abuse of nine babies who sustained fractures while under her care at a hospital.

WTVR reports that between 2022 and 2024, 27-year-old Erin Strotman caused fractures in nine infants. In January, she pleaded no contest to nine counts of felony child abuse and was sentenced June 5 to four months in prison for each count. 

In exchange for the plea, Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor negotiated for a maximum of three years. According to WTVR, Taylor said that a lack of video evidence coupled with the fact that the hospital delayed reporting the abuse would cause challenges if the county wanted to seek the maximum penalty, 45 years in prison.

WWBT reports that as part of the plea agreement, Strotman is required to surrender her nursing license. In addition to no longer being allowed to work in nursing, she is forbidden from working in healthcare in any capacity, including home health, and is forbidden from having unsupervised contact with minors.

In court, Strotman’s defense said she was using a gas-relief technique when the injuries occurred and she did not intend to cause harm, according to WTVR.

WTVR reports that many of the parents of the injured infants attended the sentencing. Ashli Mason, the parent of an injured child, said, “It felt good. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, that comes off evil, but I now know that my child’s abuser is behind bars … and I’m happy with that.”

At the sentencing, Strotman addressed the families of the victims and said, “I would like to sincerely apologize for the accidental harm that was inflicted on the babies. … I never intended to hurt your children and I am so sorry. …For a long time I did not think I was responsible, but through this case I realize that I am and that weighs heavily on me every single day,” WWBT reports.

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