Ex Pennsylvania Nurse Admits to killing 19 patients
"[Pressdee] Stated that she felt bad for their quality of life, and she had hoped they would just slip into a coma and pass away," according to investigators in the complaint.
Written by: Brittany McClain, RN
Heather Pressdee, a former nurse from Pennsylvania, has confessed to trying to kill more than a dozen additional patients. She gave lethal doses of insulin to 19 patients at five nursing homes, some of whom were diabetic and needed insulin while others did not. 17 patients died under her care. Pressdee has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, 17 counts of attempted murder, and 19 counts of neglect of a dependent person over a span of five years. The victims ranged in age from 43 to 104. She admitted to wanting to improve their quality of life by causing them to slip into a coma and pass away. Before nursing, she worked as a Veterinarian Technician caring for and euthanizing animals.
As a nurse, Pressdee often worked the night shift when there were fewer staff and made sure her victims died before shift change to avoid detection. If she thought a victim could survive a high dose of insulin, she would give them a second dose or inject air to cause their death. Evidence from her cellphone showed she had an obsession with murder and death and made threats to kill people in text messages. Staff at Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation noticed a pattern of patient deaths during Pressdee's shifts, but an internal investigation found no evidence to support the claims. She worked there from April 2021 to February 2022. Pressdee then started working at Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in January 2023, where four patients allegedly died under her watch. A nursing assistant reported that Pressdee frequently said patients needed to die. Her nursing license was suspended in July 2023. Attorney General Michelle Henry expressed disbelief that someone entrusted with patient care would intentionally harm them and emphasized the immense damage done to the victims and their families.
If you or a coworker is struggling with mental health, please reach out to a professional immediately. If you suspect abuse or harm of a patient, contact the appropriate authorities. Do not delay. As nurses, we are at high risk for mental health concerns and even suicide. Please contact organizations like NAMI or the Lifeline for support.
Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email at helpline@nami.org
Call, text, or chat with the 988 Lifeline
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