Heather Pressdee killed 2 patients, poisoned 3rd, cops say

Heather Pressdee, a nurse, allegedly poisoned three patients with insulin, killing two, authorities said. (Mugshot: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)

A nurse allegedly gave three patients lethal doses of insulin, killing two, and she asserted she intentionally did it because she wanted to stop their suffering, according to authorities in Pennsylvania.

Heather Pressdee, 40, “stated that she felt bad for their quality of life and she had hoped that they would just slip into a coma and pass away,” the complaint stated regarding two victims, 55-year-old J.B. and 83-year-old J.C. She allegedly claimed that the sole survivor, 73-year-old E.A., who was in COVID isolation and having a very difficult time, asked her to kill him.

The three incidents happened while she worked at Quality Life Services in Chicora. Though she allegedly asserted good intentions, authorities highlighted Pressdee’s unstable employment history. Investigators determined that she had a long history since 2018 of “being disciplined for abusive behavior towards patients and/or staff,” resulting in her getting fired or resigning from various facilities:

    • Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville, where she worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from October 2018 to April 2019.
    • Allegheny Valley Hospital, where she worked in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, from April to September 2019.
    • Platinum Ridge Center for Rehabilitation and Healing, where she worked in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, from September 2019 to January 2020.
    • Orchards of Saxonburg, where she worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from February to April 2020.
    • UPMC Passavant-McCandless, where she worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April to October 2020.
    • Concordia at Rebecca Resident, a nursing home, where she worked in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, from October 2020 to April 2021.
    • Guardian Healthcare, operating as BelAir Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, where she worked in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, from April 2021 to February 2022.
    • Woodhaven Care Center, where she worked in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, from March to May 2022.
    • Quality Life Services, where she worked in Chicora from May to November 2022.
    • Premier Armstrong Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, where she worked in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, from November to December 2022.
    • Butler, Pennsylvania: Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, where she worked in Butler, Pennsylvania, from January to May 2023.

Pressdee was hired as the assistant director of nursing at Quality Life and worked from May 23 to Nov. 28, 2022, investigators said. She also stepped in as interim director of nursing while keeping her other position.

“The ADON/DON are the facility leads and in charge of all nursing staff and all administrative tasks that have to be completed to meet all state and federal guidelines,” police said. “Additionally,  they address any patient care concerns, conduct internal investigations, investigate abuse allegations, and handle the scheduling of nurses. The ADON and/or DON will provide direct resident care if needed due to call-offs.”


Heather Pressdee killed 2 patients, poisoned 3rd, cops say

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