Above video: Previous updates to charges against Erin Strotman
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) – As part of recent changes made to her bond, former Virginia nurse Erin Strotman is allowed to see her brother’s two children while she faces 20 charges related to abuse of babies in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Strotman was in court for a status hearing on Wednesday, resulting in a modification to her bond that now permits visits with her niece and nephew, who are both under 8 years old.
The visits will be supervised, and the children’s parents must be able to see and hear them at all times. When making the modification, the court highlighted the occupation of Strotman’s sister-in-law as a behavioral analyst.
Strotman’s defense argued that as part of her job title, Strotman’s sister-in-law is a mandatory reporter of any evidence of abuse to the proper authorities, and swore under oath during the hearing that she would do so.
The bond modifications come while Strotman faces 20 charges relating to felony malicious wounding and felony child abuse after multiple babies in the NICU unit at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital were found with “unexplainable fractures” throughout 2023 and 2024.
Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor said the Commonwealth is still not comfortable with the idea of Strotman having contact with minors, regardless of her relationship to the children.
“We shouldn’t just accept that relationship as being a protection of the children,” Taylor said.
When talking about Strotman’s relationship with her children, Strotman’s sister-in-law stated in court, “basically, she’s their best friend.”
The defense also argued that “they’re a very close family,” and their time apart has caused “hardships on the family.”
Due to the nature and severity of the charges presented against Strotman, the Commonwealth maintains that Strotman should never have been released from confinement at the jail in the first place.
The Commonwealth also discussed the impact of this case on the families (many of whom were in the courtroom on Wednesday) of the several infants found with fractures and other signs of neglect.
The only other changes made to Strotman’s bond were in relation to the technicalities of her existing house arrest: She is now allowed to go out on her front porch and back deck.
As of the time of reporting, there are no upcoming court hearings for Strotman until her trial date set for Feb. 9, 2026, although Taylor said there is the possibility for that to change depending on discussions surrounding evidence, witnesses or stipulations.
More information and further in-depth coverage of Strotman’s case can be found on Nexstar’s WRIC.