American nurse who killed 17 patients with insulin gets life imprisonment
Prosecutors alleged that Harrison's Presdi gave large amounts of insulin to patients. She usually administered insulin during night shifts, when staff was less. Her nursing license was suspended early last year, shortly after the initial charges were filed.
Three life sentences in murder case. (symbolic)
A nurse in Pennsylvania, America, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. This nurse was accused of killing 17 patients with lethal insulin doses. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted on three counts of murder.
Heather Presdi, 41, was given three consecutive life terms and 380-760 years in prison at a hearing in Butler, about 48 kilometers north of Pittsburgh.
17 patients died
Prosecutors said he played a role in the deaths of at least 17 patients living in five health care facilities in four counties between 2020 and 2023. The age of the victims ranged between 43 and 104 years. Authorities said colleagues often questioned Presdi's behavior, saying she often showed contempt for her patients and made derogatory comments about them.
convicted in 19 cases
Presdi was convicted on three counts of murder and 19 counts of attempt to murder. In May 2023, he was initially accused of killing two nursing home patients and injuring a third. Further investigation revealed dozens more allegations against him.
During a February hearing, in which she argued with her lawyers, she indicated that she intended to plead guilty. The hearing of the petition was expected to last till Friday as several people wanted to give victim impact statements, officials said.
Insulin given in night shift
Prosecutors alleged that Harrison's Presdi gave large amounts of insulin to patients. She usually administered insulin during night shifts, when staff was less and emergencies did not require immediate hospitalization. Her nursing license was suspended early last year, shortly after the initial charges were filed.
Sent a message to my mother
According to court documents, Presdi sent messages to her mother between April 2022 and May 2023, in which she discussed her unhappiness with various patients and coworkers and talked about potentially harming her. She had also expressed similar complaints about the people she met in restaurants and other places.
Prosecutors said in court documents that Presdi had a history of abusive behavior toward patients and staff, which resulted in her resignation or termination. According to the documents, in early 2018, Presdi worked at several jobs, including a western Pennsylvania nursing home.