A Pennsylvania (USA) nurse who administered lethal or potentially lethal doses of insulin to several patients pleaded guilty to three counts of murder on Thursday (2/5).
Heather Pressdee, 41, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences and another sentence of up to 760 years in prison, during a hearing in Butler, 30 miles from Pittsburgh. She played a role in the deaths of at least 17 patients living in five healthcare facilities in four Pennsylvania counties between 2020 and 2023, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The 22 (five cases are still pending) victims in total were aged between 43 and 104. Co-workers frequently questioned Heather’s conduct and said she frequently showed disdain for her patients and made derogatory comments about them, authorities said, according to the NY Post.
The American, who escaped the death penalty, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and 19 counts of attempted murder. She was initially accused in May 2023 of killing two nursing home patients and injuring a third resident. Further investigation led to dozens of other allegations against her. During a hearing in February, in which she argued with her lawyers, the nurse indicated that she wanted to plead guilty.
Prosecutors presented a narrative in court that says Heather administered excessive amounts of insulin to 22 patients, including some who were not diabetic. She typically administered the insulin during night shifts, when staffing was limited and emergencies did not require immediate hospitalization. Most patients died shortly after receiving the insulin dose, or some time later.
