CRIME
Nurse Charged With Killing 2 Patients Allegedly Admits Trying To Kill 19 Others, Some Of Whom Died
Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office
A Pennsylvania nurse charged earlier this year with killing two patients with lethal doses of insulin is facing more charges after she allegedly admitted trying to kill 19 other people.
Heather Pressdee, 41, was originally charged in May for the mistreatment of three patients, two of whom died, in the care homes where she worked. She later confessed to investigators that she had tried to kill another 19 patients at different facilities where she worked.
In total, Pressdee is charged with the mistreatment of 22 patients aged 43–104 in five different facilities from 2020 to this year, according to a statement from the the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office.
Pressdee was charged this week with two counts of first-degree murder, 17 counts of attempted murder, and 19 counts of neglect of a care-dependent person.
Prosecutors said Pressdee was only charged with first-degree murder in the cases where the physical evidence is available to support her alleged admissions as to the cause of death. Cases where the victims survived, or the cause of death could not be determined, were charged as attempted murder.
“The allegations against Ms. Pressdee are disturbing. It is hard to comprehend how a nurse, trusted to care for her patients, could choose to deliberately and systematically harm them,” Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement.
“The damage done to the victims and their loved ones cannot be overstated. Every person in a medical or care facility should feel safe and cared for, and my office will work tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable for her crimes and protect care-dependent Pennsylvanians from future harm, Henry said.
Pressdee allegedly administered lethal doses of insulin to patients during overnight shifts when lower staffing levels would hinder an emergency response. According to the criminal complaint, Pressdee would also inject air into the patients if the insulin didn’t seem to be working.
If Pressdee sensed the victim would pull through there is a pattern of her taking additional measures to try to kill the victims before they could be sent to the hospital by either administering a second dose of insulin or the use of an air embolism to ensure death,” the complaint said.
The alleged crimes took place while Pressdee was employed at Concordia at Rebecca Residence; Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation (Guardian); Quality Life Services Chicora; Premier Armstrong Rehabilitation and Nursing Center; and Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
TMX contributed to this article.
