A former Pennsylvania nurse, Heather Pressdee, was sentenced to life in prison for administering excessive doses of insulin to nearly two dozen patients, 17 of whom died. The patients, aged 43 to 104, were mistreated at five rehabilitation centers across Pennsylvania between 2020 and 2023. Ms. Pressdee was initially charged with killing two nursing home patients and injuring a third, but additional charges were added after she admitted to trying to kill a total of 19 patients.
First-degree murder charges were only filed in cases where physical evidence was available, while attempted-murder charges were filed in cases where the victims survived or the cause of death was unclear. Ms. Pressdee pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and 19 counts of attempted murder. She was sentenced to life in prison for the murder charges and additional consecutive terms for the attempted murder charges. The plea agreement ensured that she would never have the opportunity to cause harm again.
Prosecutors stated that Ms. Pressdee administered excessive doses of insulin, usually during overnight shifts when staffing was low, to patients regardless of whether they were diabetic. If a patient did not die, she would take additional measures to ensure their death, such as administering a second dose of insulin or causing an air embolism. Troubling statements made by Ms. Pressdee on social media and in conversations with colleagues were also detailed in the criminal complaint.
In a separate wrongful death lawsuit, it was noted that staff members at one nursing home had observed troubling behavior from Ms. Pressdee and noticed unexpected deteriorations in the health of patients under her care. Some staff members even began referring to her as the “Killer Nurse.” Families of Ms. Pressdee’s victims packed a Butler County courtroom for the sentencing, providing victim impact statements. One family member expressed that there was no justice for the crimes committed by Ms. Pressdee and that true justice would come when she faced judgment from a higher power.
Heather Pressdee’s lawyer, Phillip P. DiLucente, aimed to avoid the death penalty for his client during the legal proceedings. Capital punishment is legal but rarely used in Pennsylvania. The attorney general’s office commended the sentence and the guilty plea, stating that it would ensure that Ms. Pressdee could not cause further harm to others. The life sentence handed down to Ms. Pressdee would not bring back the lives lost due to her actions but would serve as a form of justice for the victims and their families.
