Killer Nurse

Heather Pressdee, also known as the “Killer Nurse”, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, as well as 19 counts of attempted homicide on May 2nd, 2024. Pressdee was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Pressdee joined the nursing home sector in 2018, and has worked as a nurse at a dozen facilities in Pennsylvania. In November, Pressdee was charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and neglect of her residents at five facilities. Last year, Pressdee was originally charged with two homicides, but families of other deceased patients came forward which lead to the current charges.

During her time as a nurse at said nursing homes, Pressdee would allegedly say that residents “just needed to die”. Pressdee’s coworkers and physicians had sounded the alarm to the Department of Health on dying residents that were under her care, just before her arrest.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said “The defendant used her position of trust as a means to poison patients who depended on her for care.” “This plea and life sentence will not bring back the lives lost, but it will ensure Heather Pressdee never has another opportunity to inflict further harm.”

According to a 32-page affidavit from investigators, Pressdee admitted to killing the residents and explained how she was upset at their quality of life and “hoped they would just slip into a coma and pass away.” Pressdee used overdoses of insulin in many of her attempts, and the victims ranged from ages 43 to 104. Additionally, Pressdee was disciplined for her improper use of insulin at her first facility, Encompass Health Rehabilitation in Harmarville, PA, before she
left.

Pressdee would communicate with her mom about her vicious thoughts and behaviors. She would complain about the behavior of her coworkers by saying she was “gonna murder my aides”. Pressdee also wrote “I may kill this resident” to “set some sort of boundary with him” referencing a resident that would follow her around the facility.

Plaintiff’s claims include allegations that some facility leaders ignored Pressdee’s actions and even went as far to discipline staff for questioning her behavior. Other Pennsylvania facilities where she worked are defendants in some lawsuits by residents’ families.