Erin Strotman, a former neonatal intensive care nurse at Henrico Doctors' Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced Friday to 45 years in prison after being convicted of injuring nine premature infants who suffered unexplained fractures while under her care — but she will serve no more than three years behind bars under the terms of a plea agreement.
Background
Strotman, 27, was charged in January 2025 with malicious wounding and felony child abuse following an investigation into injuries sustained by multiple infants in the hospital's NICU. Court records show that three babies had suffered unexplained fractures in November 2024 alone. Further investigation revealed that four additional infants had experienced similar injuries during the summer of 2023.
According to prosecutors, videos obtained during the investigation allegedly showed Strotman applying pressure on a 5-month-old baby boy's legs to the point where his feet reached his head. The alleged abuse occurred over a span from 2022 through 2024.
In January 2025, Strotman pleaded no contest to nine counts of child abuse involving nine infants. She was convicted the following month, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
The Charges
Strotman was sentenced Friday in Henrico County Circuit Court to the statutory maximum of five years per count — totaling 45 years. However, pursuant to a plea agreement negotiated between Strotman's defense attorneys and the Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, Judge Central Ducote suspended all but four months of each sentence.
The total effective time behind bars amounts to approximately three years, with potential for early release for good behavior after serving 65 percent of her sentence. The judge denied a defense request for home confinement.
Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor addressed reporters following the sentencing, explaining the circumstances that led to the negotiated plea agreement. "It wasn't my choice that I wanted to actually do three years," Taylor said. "There would be challenges in prosecuting this case due to lack of video evidence for some of the babies, the hospital's delay in reporting the abuse, and care guidelines prior to 2024 which did not track which nurse provided care to which infant."
Taylor emphasized that Virginia's sentencing guidelines limited her options despite the severity of the crimes. "As unimaginable as it is," she said.
Strotman's defense attorneys had argued that their client never intended to harm the children and claimed she was using a specific gas-relief technique she learned while employed at the hospital. At the hearing, Strotman addressed the families directly.
"I would like to sincerely apologize for the accidental harm that was inflicted on the babies," she reportedly said. "I never intended to hurt your children and I am so sorry."
Key Takeaways
- Erin Strotman convicted of nine counts of child abuse for injuries to nine premature infants at Henrico Doctors' Hospital in Richmond, Virginia
- Sentenced to 45 years (5-year statutory maximum per count) but will serve approximately 3 years under plea agreement
- Judge suspended all but four months of each sentence; she could be released for good behavior after serving 65% of her time
- Videos allegedly captured Strotman applying extreme pressure to an infant's legs during the alleged abuse
- Commonwealth's Attorney cited evidentiary challenges including lack of video evidence and hospital record-keeping failures as factors in plea deal
- Virginia Department of Health determined in April 2025 that the hospital "failed to prevent abuse" in connection with Strotman's care
What's Next
Strotman, who had not been in custody since her arrest, was taken into immediate custody following Friday's sentencing hearing. She is expected to serve her sentence at a Virginia state correctional facility. Parents of the injured infants expressed mixed reactions — Ashli Mason, whose child was among the victims, said she was pleased that Strotman would be incarcerated. The case remains subject to appeal, and defense attorneys have not indicated whether they plan to challenge the sentence.
Henrico Doctors' Hospital faces continued scrutiny following the Virginia Department of Health's damning report finding systemic failures in preventing abuse within its NICU unit.