A 41-year-old nurse in Pennsylvania, Heather Pressdee, who was previously charged with killing patients by administering fatal doses of insulin, now faces additional murder and attempted murder charges for allegedly mistreating 19 more individuals at various medical facilities.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on November 2 that her office had charged Heather Pressdee with two counts of first-degree murder, 17 counts of attempted murder, and 19 counts of neglect of a care-dependent person. This follows Pressdee’s previous charges in May, which included two counts of homicide, one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault, three counts of neglect of a care-dependent person, and three counts of reckless endangerment. The May charges related to incidents that occurred at Quality Life Services in 2022, where Pressdee allegedly administered lethal doses of insulin to patients.
The patients affected by these alleged crimes ranged from 43 to 104 years old, with varying medical conditions, including diabetes. In many instances, Pressdee purportedly administered insulin during overnight shifts when staffing was limited, making it less likely for immediate medical intervention.
In total, Pressdee is accused of killing at least 17 patients and mistreating 22 others under her care. The first-degree murder charges are based on cases where physical evidence supports the cause of death. The attempted murder charges pertain to instances in which the victims either survived the excessive insulin dosage or the exact cause of death could not be determined.
Attorney General Michelle Henry expressed her deep concern about the allegations, stating, “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.”
Heather Pressdee was arraigned on November 2 and is being held without bail in the Butler County Prison. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover further details surrounding these tragic incidents, which have sent shockwaves through the healthcare community in Pennsylvania.
These allegations not only raise questions about the patient care system but also highlight the critical importance of rigorous oversight and safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals in healthcare settings.
