RICHMOND — The criminal case against a former nurse at the neonatal intensive-care unit of Henrico Doctors' Hospital continues to grow.Ìý now faces 20 felony counts of child abuse and malicious wounding in connection to nine newborn victims.Ìý
On Wednesday, Strotman was arraigned on eight new charges in connection to four victims, all of whom authorities had previously identified. Prosecutors in Henrico County say they have charged Strotman for every victim they have found.Ìý
The babies, who suffered unexplained broken bones at the Henrico Doctors' neonatal intensive-care unit, or NICU, in 2023, were the original four victims whose injuries triggered investigations by the hospital and Henrico's office of Child Protective Services.Ìý
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Strotman
But Child Protective Services could not determine the perpetrator and dropped the case in late 2023. It was not until more babies were hurt in 2024 that police reopened the case and arrested Strotman. Now Henrico prosecutors have done something Child Protective Services could not – accuse someone of wrongdoing.Ìý
The families "have been waiting for this moment," said Shannon Taylor, Henrico's top prosecutor.Ìý
Strotman remains free on bond and is expected to go to trial in February 2026. She has not made a plea in the case.Ìý
After hospital leaders discovered four newborns had been hurt in 2023, they determined two employees had been assigned to all four children – Strotman, and a veteran respiratory therapist. While the respiratory therapist had worked in the department for decades without any issues, Strotman was relatively new. The hospital placed Strotman on paid leave and allowed the other employee to continue working.Ìý
According to reports from Child Protective Services and the Virginia Board of Nursing, one baby suffered fractures in each arm, the left thigh and two ribs. Another had a corner fracture to the left tibia, which occurs when the edge of the arm bone is chipped. Doctors consider it a sign of abuse.ÌýAnother had fractures and bruising on his legs.Ìý
A year later, Henrico Doctors' installed surveillance cameras and allowed Strotman to return to work. Weeks later, more babies suffered unexplained factures, and police arrested Strotman in January 2025.Ìý
Since then, prosecutors have added charges on three separate dates. Strotman's attorney, Jeffrey Everhart, told the court that prosecutors were slowly doling out charges "with an eye dropper."Â
"I hope the end is in sight," Everhart said. "I don't know."
Alison Martin, a Henrico prosecutor, countered that her office did not want to charge Strotman until it had sufficient evidence and probable cause.
Martin asked the judge to rescind Strotman's bond and hold her in the county jail, citing the growing number of charges and "overwhelming" video evidence.
But Everhart argued that Strotman is not a flight risk – she is required to live at her parents' house with an ankle monitor, and she can leave only for medical and legal appointments. She is not a risk to the community, either, he said. Judge Richard Wallerstein has prohibited her from practicing nursing, and the .Ìý
Ultimately, the judged sided with the defense and agreed to let Strotman remain free on bond.Ìý
Strotman's other attorney, Theodore Bruns, said he will file a motion to set guardrails on how the case is communicated to the media. The judge will consider the motion later this month. It is not uncommon for judges to restrict people involved in high-profile cases from discussing them publicly, known as a gag order, said Taylor, the Henrico prosecutor. News of the children's injuries and Strotman's arrest garnered national attention. The father of one of the victims declined to comment Wednesday; so did the lawyer of another.Ìý
But lawyers on both sides do not have to worry about tainting a jury pool. They have agreed to let the judge determine Strotman's fate, not a jury.Ìý
One of the victims, now a toddler, visited court Wednesday. Taylor said it's "wonderful" that some of the victims "seem to be OK." Taylor has declined to speak at length about the medical status of the nine children.Ìý