Heather Pressdee: Former Pennsylvania nurse arrested for killing 2 patients admits to 12 more attempted murders
LOWER BURRELL, PENNSYLVANIA: A former Pennsylvania nurse, who was arrested in May for the murder of two patients, has admitted to trying to kill more than 12 other people, according to the authorities.
Heather Pressdee, 41, of Natrona Heights, allegedly confessed to trying to claim the lives of 19 additional patients with toxic doses of insulin at five different nursing homes, as per a complaint.
"Pressdee is accused of administering excessive amounts of insulin to these patients, some of whom were diabetic and required insulin, some of whom were not. In total, 17 patients died who had been cared for by Pressdee," according to a press release from the Pennsylvania Attorney General, People reports.
What charges does Heather Pressdee face?
Pressdee is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, 17 counts of attempted murder and 19 counts of neglect of a care-dependent person over a five-year period.
Her alleged victims range in the age group of 43 to 104. "[Pressdee] 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," investigators wrote in the complaint.
The ex-veterinary technician, who was tasked with putting animals to sleep in her prior career, often worked the medication carts at these facilities, administering insulin during the night shift when staffing was lowest, the police document alleges.
"Pressdee often took steps to ensure her victims would expire prior to shift change so that they wouldn't be sent to the hospital where her scheme could be discovered through medical test," according to police.
If Pressdee suspected the victim would "pull through" after receiving a megadose of insulin, she would allegedly administer a second dose or inject the patient with air to ensure their death, court papers allege.
Heather Pressdee had an obsession with murder and death
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Pressdee's cellphone, which revealed an obsession with murder and death.
"I can't with this lady. She's going to get pillow therapy", she allegedly wrote of a resident in text messages with her mother.
In at least three separate text messages, she threatened to kill a "man at Taco Bell," a "pizza man" and an "Arbys guy."
Concerned staff at the Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation told the director of operations that there was a pattern of patients dying during Pressdee's shifts.
However, an internal investigation concluded that there was no evidence to support the claims, even though five patients died under Pressdee's direct care in 10 months.
Pressdee began working as a manager in January 2023 at Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, where four patients allegedly died on her watch.
A nursing assistant told police that Pressdee often said that patients "just needed to die."
Pressdee's nursing license was suspended in July 2023 amid the criminal investigation. "It is hard to comprehend how a nurse, trusted to care for her patients, could choose to deliberately and systematically harm them," Attorney General Michelle Henry said.
"The damage done to the victims and their loved ones cannot be overstated," Henry added.
Pressdee was arraigned on Thursday, November 2, and is being held without bail at Butler County Prison.