A Pennsylvania nurse pleaded guilty on Thursday to three counts of murder and other charges after admitting to administering lethal or potentially lethal doses of insulin to multiple patients. As a result, she has been sentenced to life in prison.
During a hearing in Butler, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Pittsburgh, prosecutors sentenced Heather Pressdee, 41, to three consecutive life terms and another term ranging from 380 to 760 years in prison. Prosecutors said she contributed to the deaths of at least 17 patients who lived in five health facilities across four counties between 2020 and 2023.
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The victims’ ages ranged from 43 to 104. Coworkers regularly questioned Pressdee’s behavior, alleging that she displayed disrespect for her patients and made disparaging remarks about them, according to officials.
Pressdee pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and 19 attempted murders. In May 2023, authorities initially charged Pressdee with killing two nursing home residents and injuring a third. A further inquiry resulted in dozens of additional charges against her. During a February hearing in which she clashed with her attorneys, she stated that she intended to plead guilty.
The plea session was likely to stretch until Friday because several people wanted to submit victim impact statements, officials said.
Prosecutors claimed that Pressdee, of Harrison, administered excessive doses of insulin to patients, some of whom were diabetic and others not. She usually delivered the insulin during evening shifts, when staffing was limited and emergencies did not require rapid hospitalization.
The suspension of her nursing license occurred early last year, shortly after the original charges.
According to court documents, Pressdee texted her mother between April 2022 and May 2023 about her discontent with numerous patients and colleagues, including threats to hurt them. She had similar concerns about people she met at restaurants and other locations.
Prosecutors stated in court records that Pressdee had a history of abusive behavior towards patients and/or staff at each facility, which led to her resignation or termination. According to the filings, Pressdee worked for a variety of nursing homes and facilities in western Pennsylvania for short periods of time beginning in 2018.
