A 40-year-old nurse from Pennsylvania, Heather Pressdee, is accused of killing two patients and inflicting harm on another.
Pressdee is charged with homicide, attempted murder, aggravated assault, neglecting a dependent individual, and reckless endangerment. These charges are in connection with the demise of a 55-year-old male and an 83-year-old male, and the injury of a 73-year-old male.
The allegations brought forward depict a harrowing abuse of vulnerable patients by a nurse, with the Attorney General describing the actions as deliberate and intentional, committed by a trusted caregiver.
At the time of the alleged incidents, Pressdee was a registered nurse employed at Quality Life Services (QLS), a retirement nursing facility situated in Chicora. QLS expressed their shock and devastation at the charges. They emphasized their commitment to providing safe and compassionate care and pledging their full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
The incidents date back to November 19, 2022, when the two deceased victims fell ill under Pressdee’s care. Their rooms were connected by a Jack-and-Jill-style bathroom, according to the affidavit.
The victims were hospitalized the following day, suffering from hypoglycemia. The 83-year-old victim had been hospitalized for hypoglycemia once before in October 2022.
The affidavit alleges that Pressdee administered lethal doses of insulin, a hormone generally prescribed to diabetic patients for controlling blood sugar levels. Two of the three victims were not diagnosed with diabetes.
A nurse practitioner witness recounted a disturbing conversation with Pressdee, who allegedly suggested that the 83-year-old victim would be “better off dead,” contradicting the fundamental medical principle to “do no harm” to patients.
On August 31, 2022, the surviving victim, under Pressdee’s care, was transported to the hospital due to low blood-sugar levels. He received treatment and survived the ordeal.
Upon interviewing Pressdee at her residence on May 24, 2023, she reportedly confessed to administering insulin injections to two of the victims. She claimed it was an act of mercy due to their poor quality of life. Regarding the surviving victim, Pressdee stated he was in COVID isolation and suffering. She claimed that he requested her to end his life on a particularly busy night.
In a phone conversation with her mother, overheard by the authorities, Pressdee admitted to administering unnecessary insulin doses to patients.
QLS assures families and patients that they are cooperating with the Attorney General’s Office and that the residents of Quality Life Services – Chicora are safe and receiving suitable care and service.