A Virginia judge has granted a $25,000 bond to Erin Strotman, a former NICU nurse accused of abusing multiple newborns in her care, a decision that has sparked outrage among families of the affected infants.
Strotman, 26, faces charges of malicious wounding and child abuse after surveillance footage allegedly captured her mishandling a newborn in a neonatal intensive care unit.
While she has been formally charged in connection with one baby in 2024, investigators are looking into her role as the sole suspect in the suspected abuse of seven NICU infants between 2023 and 2024.
Bond Decision and Release Conditions
Despite the severity of the allegations, the judge ruled that Strotman is not a flight risk and does not pose a danger to herself.
Under the terms of her bond release, she must:
- Remain under house arrest at her parents’ home
- Have no contact with children or vulnerable adults
- Be banned from working in health care
- Ensure her parents remove all firearms from their home
Sealed Evidence and Upcoming Court Date
Key case details, including a court-ordered mental health evaluation and text messages exchanged with her boyfriend, remain sealed. Strotman’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May.
Families of the affected infants have expressed frustration over the judge’s decision, arguing that Strotman should remain in custody given the ongoing investigation and the serious nature of the allegations.
