Heather Pressdee: Ex-Pennsylvania Nurse Tied to 17 Fatalities
- A former Pennsylvania nurse, Heather Pressdee, confessed to trying to kill 22 patients across various rehabilitation centers by injecting them with insulin doses. She has been charged with four counts of murder, 18 counts of attempted murder, and 19 counts of neglecting a care-dependent person. Seventeen patients died under her care.
- Pressdee was arraigned on November 3, 2022, but her plea is still unknown. According to the attorney general’s office, first-degree murder charges were only filed where physical evidence was available. The 17 attempted-murder charges were filed in cases where the victims either survived the excessive dosage of insulin or the cause of death could not be determined.
- One of her victims, Marianne Bower, died while under Pressdee’s care at Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. The facility is facing a separate wrongful-death lawsuit. Investigations revealed unusual patterns of patients showing signs of acute diabetes complications during Pressdee’s time at the center. Despite this, further inquiries into Pressdee’s conduct were neglected. Pressdee reportedly administered lethal insulin doses primarily during night shifts when staffing was low.
Additional Murder Charges for Pennsylvania Nurse
Former Pennsylvania nurse Heather Pressdee, 41, now faces multiple charges for murdering patients by administering lethal insulin doses. Initially arrested for two counts of murder and one attempted murder, Pressdee now admits to attempting to kill 19 other patients in rehab centers across Pennsylvania since 2020. In total, authorities confirm 17 patients died under her care.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office announced the new charges, which include two additional counts of murder, 17 of attempted murder, and 19 of neglect of a care-dependent person. Pressdee was arraigned on Thursday, with her plea yet to be revealed.
Describing the allegations as “disturbing,” State Attorney General Michelle Henry expressed shock at how a trusted nurse could harm patients deliberately. The news release indicated that charges of first-degree murder were only filed where physical evidence was available. The 17 attempted-murder charges were filed in cases where victims survived the excessive insulin dosage or the cause of death couldn’t be determined.
Pressdee is accused of mistreating 22 patients, aged between 43 to 104. One victim was Marianne Bower, 68, who died under Pressdee’s care at Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Lower Burrell. The lawsuit representing Bower’s estate alleges that Pressdee killed Bower, non-diabetic, with insulin.
Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center didn’t immediately comment on the lawsuit, which alleges that the center noticed Pressdee’s “troubling behavior” and the unexpected deterioration of patients in her care. Referred to as the ‘Killer Nurse,’ Pressdee was found to have violated center policies, according to a state Health Department investigation.
The criminal complaint filed by the attorney general details troubling comments Pressdee made over the years. Investigators were told that Pressdee demeaned patients in her care. Prosecutors claim she administered insulin doses during low-staff overnight shifts, taking additional measures if she felt a victim would survive.
When relatives of Ms. Bower learned of Pressdee’s confession, they were deeply affected. Despite the pain, they are hopeful that these latest charges will bring justice to all affected families.
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