Former Henrico NICU nurse granted $25,000 bond in child abuse case

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Erin Strotman, the former nurse at Henrico Doctors' Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) accused of child abuse and malicious wounding, has been granted a $25,000 bond following several appeal hearings.

The bond hearing took place on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 12, with 26-year-old Strotman receiving a $25,000 bond -- $12,500 per charge -- in front of her family as well as the family of the 5-month-old baby boy she is currently accused of causing harm.

The conditions of the bond are as follows:

• Strotman must live at her parent's house and will be supervised by the Community Corrections Program (CCP) in Henrico County
• She will be placed under house arrest with a GPS monitor, and she is only allowed to attend CCP appointments, attorney appointments and medical appointments
• Strotman will not be allowed to work in any services as a healthcare professional, healthcare provider or custodial care
• She is not allowed to be in the presence of minors or vulnerable adults
• All medicines except those that are prescribed must be kept locked, and she is to stay away from all other drugs
• All firearms must be kept out of the household
• Strotman must not be in contact with any witnesses that may testify, as well as her boyfriend

This decision comes after an initial hearing on Jan. 13 where Strotman was denied bond, and an additional hearing on Jan. 22 where she appealed the denial. No decision was made on Jan. 22 due to the judge calling for a psychological evaluation, which carried over into the bond granted at the Circuit Court hearing on Feb. 12.

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At the Jan. 22 hearing, the medical evaluation that was conducted by Dr. Michele Nelson and several of Strotman's text messages relating to the case were set to be sealed. Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor said that this was due to concerns of potentially prejudicing the jury.

Strotman's next court date is set for May 12 at 1 p.m. If Strotman fails to appear, the Commonwealth will seek a felony failure to appear against her.

Strotman has been charged with child abuse and malicious wounding in connection to a five-month-old baby boy who was found with a fractured left femur, fractured right tibia and multiple rib fractures. Despite court documents detailing surveillance video that allegedly captured the incident, Strotman's nursing license was still active as of Jan. 29.