Heather Pressdee case: Former Pennsylvania nurse now linked to 17 nursing home deaths

A former Pennsylvania nurse who in May was accused of killing two patients with insulin doses now faces additional murder charges and has confessed to trying to kill 19 additional people at multiple locations, officials said. authorities announced Thursday.

Heather Pressdee, 41, is accused of administering excessive amounts of insulin to patients in her care, some of whom had diabetes and needed insulin, and some of whom did not, according to the attorney general’s office from Pennsylvania.

In total, 17 patients treated by Pressdee died.

Pressdee admitted to trying to kill 19 other patients with insulin at five different rehabilitation centers across the state as early as 2020, and as recently as this year, the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office said.

“The allegations against Ms. Pressdee are disturbing. It is difficult to understand how a nurse, charged with caring for her patients, could choose to deliberately and systematically harm them,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry. “The damage caused to the victims and their loved ones cannot be overstated. Every person in a medical or healthcare facility should feel safe and cared for, and my office will work tirelessly to hold the accused accountable for her crimes and protect healthcare-dependent Pennsylvanians from future harm.”

Pressdee has now been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, 17 counts of attempted murder and 19 counts of neglect of a dependent person.

“The alleged crimes occurred while Pressdee was employed as a registered nurse at the following facilities: Concordia at Rebecca Residence; Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation (tutor); Quality Life Services Chicora; Premier Armstrong Rehabilitation and Nursing Center; and Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center,” officials said. “Pressdee typically administered insulin during night shifts when staffing was low and emergencies did not result in immediate hospitalization.”

The victims were aged between 43 and 104.

Pressdee was arraigned Thursday and waived her preliminary hearing on those charges. She is currently being held without bail at the Butler County Jail.

Anyone with information about these incidents or Heather Pressdee is asked to contact the Office of the Attorney General’s tip line at 888-538-8541.