Virginia NICU Attacks Target Boys-Nurse Charged as Investigation Expands

The father of a Virginia toddler injured as a newborn in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has revealed unsettling details about a string of mysterious attacks on infants at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond. Dominique Hackey, whose son Noah suffered a fractured tibia in September 2023, said the victims shared one disturbing commonality: they were all boys.



“There were all different injuries, and two boys had multiple injuries,” Hackey said. “So far, in chatting amongst ourselves, we can't find a pattern of why our babies, other than that they were just boys.”



On Christmas Eve, the hospital shut down its NICU after launching an internal investigation into seven cases of "unexplainable fractures" among newborns. The incidents, three of which occurred in recent months, appear linked to four others dating back to 2023.



Authorities arrested Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, a 26-year-old registered nurse, on charges of malicious wounding and child abuse in connection with one of the cases. Police are now investigating six additional incidents, including the Hackey case, which was initially closed without charges due to insufficient evidence.



Rumors that race played a role in the attacks have circulated online, but Hackey dismissed these claims, stating that only two of the victims were Black. He has been in contact with five other families and is working to meet the final one.



Hackey’s son Noah, born prematurely at 28 weeks and six days, sustained a fractured tibia that investigators later deemed the result of child abuse. The incident left Hackey devastated.



“The first emotion that my son ever experienced was pain, and that’s not supposed to happen,” he said. “The first emotion is supposed to be joy and laughter...and that wasn’t the case for my son and six other boys.”



Hackey recalls encountering Strotman during his family’s NICU stay, describing her as “nice” but “insignificant.” He only recently learned that the hospital had placed Strotman on paid leave, suggesting they suspected misconduct long before her arrest.



The hospital has since implemented stringent security measures, including 24-hour surveillance, parent live-streaming options, and mandatory two-person protocols for staff entering patient rooms.



“We are both shocked and saddened by this development in the investigation,” the hospital said in a statement. “We remain focused on caring for our patients and supporting our colleagues during this deeply personal time.”

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