In January 2025, a nurse named Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman was arrested and charged with child abuse and malicious wounding after several babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Virginia suffered unexplained fractures. Initial reports on social media, especially from platforms like X and Reddit, incorrectly suggested the babies were specifically targeted based on race, with a focus on Black infants.
However, investigations and statements from authorities clarified that race was not a factor in the incidents. Of the seven victims, two were Black, but the injuries were not racially motivated. The police confirmed that the nurse was not charged with a hate crime. This clarification came after rumors spread, particularly because some of the victims’ families expressed concern over the unexplained injuries.
The incidents began in the summer of 2023, with multiple babies suffering injuries that were initially unexplained. The hospital and police initially struggled to identify the cause, with the hospital suggesting rough injections as a possible cause and the police suspecting abuse. In late 2024, additional cases of broken bones occurred, prompting the hospital to stop admitting newborns to the NICU until the cause of the fractures could be determined.
Ultimately, Erin Strotman, a 26-year-old nurse, was arrested after an investigation connected her to the injuries, and the case was reopened to include earlier incidents. The hospital and law enforcement both took swift action to address the situation.
This case highlights the complexity of investigations involving medical staff and patient safety, while also shedding light on the dangers of misinformation and rumors in the age of social media.