Pennsylvania Nurse Charged With Murder After Allegedly Killing Patients With Insulin

Heather Pressdee, a 40-year-old nurse from Pennsylvania, was reportedly concerned the patients had a low quality of life and hoped "they would slip into a coma and just pass away.”

June 02, 2023
Heather Pressdee, pictured here, is accused of having prescribed excessive amounts of insulin to patients, ultimately killing two patients and hospitalizing a third.

Heather Pressdee is accused of having prescribed excessive amounts of insulin to patients, ultimately killing two patients and hospitalizing a third in Pennsylvania.

Photo by: Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General

Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General

Heather Pressdee, a 40-year-old nurse in western Pennsylvania, has been taken into custody and charged with killing two of her patients and inflicting a serious injury on a third one. She administered dangerous doses of insulin to all three, and only one of those patients was diabetic.

Pressdee committed these crimes at Quality Life Services, a skilled nursing facility where she was employed as a nurse. PEOPLE reported that she worked there from May 23, 2022, until Nov. 28, 2022, and she administered the medication while the patients were under her care.

Pressdee’s murder victims were a 55-year-old man and an 83-year-old man who both died in December 2022. Her third victim was 73 and survived a dose of insulin that could have been fatal on August 31, 2022.

On May 25, 2023, Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Pressdee, who resided in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, had been charged with two counts of homicide, a count of attempted murder, a count of aggravated assault, three counts of neglect of a care-dependent person, and three counts of reckless endangerment.

Pressdee was taken into custody that same day and is now being held without bond at Butler County Prison.

Henry said, “The allegations in this case outline the callous abuse of incredibly vulnerable patients by a professional nurse. As the charges indicate, these were deliberate and intentional acts perpetrated by a caregiver who was trusted to care for these victims.”

When investigators asked Pressdee about the deaths prior to her arrest, she admitted that she did administer the lethal doses of insulin, and she explained that she did it deliberately since she hoped "they would slip into a coma and just pass away," reported CBS News. She said she was concerned they had a low quality of life.

This wasn’t the first time Pressdee had an issue at work. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, she had been disciplined at nearly a dozen other medical facilities in the past five years. She was accused of abusing patients or staff at each of the nursing jobs she had since she obtained her registered nurse permit on July 3, 2018.

Heather Pressdee’s case is being investigated by the Office of Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Section and Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and it remains active. Anybody who might have concerns about the care they or a loved one received from Pressdee is asked to contact the Office of Attorney General’s tip line at 888-538-8541.

Prolific Serial Killer Nurse Charles Cullen May Have Killed As Many As 400 Patients

The murderer’s 16-year medical career in New Jersey and Pennsylvania ended after he was arrested in 2003.

Next Up

Prolific Serial Killer Nurse Charles Cullen May Have Killed As Many As 400 Patients

The murderer’s 16-year medical career in New Jersey and Pennsylvania ended after he was arrested in 2003.

Arrests Made In Robberies, Deaths Of Men At NYC Gay Clubs

On March 31, 2023, the New York Police Department identified three suspects in connection to the deaths of 25-year-old Julio Ramirez and 33-year-old John Umberger.

Suspected Hospital Serial Killer Charged With Second Murder Two Decades After Deaths

After two decades, suspected medical serial killer Jennifer Anne Hall has been arrested and charged with murder for two deaths that occurred during her short time at the Hedrick Medical Center in Missouri.

What We Know About The Suspect Arrested In Murders Of Four Idaho College Students

On Dec. 30, 2022, Bryan Kohberger was arrested in connection with the November murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

Poison Specialist Accused Of Killing His Wife With Poison

A Minnesota poison expert has been charged with second-degree murder after he allegedly poisoned his wife with liquid colchicine.

Nurse Accused Of Killing Babies At U.K. Hospital Sentenced To Life In Prison

Lucy Letby was convicted of the murders of seven babies, and the attempted murder of six more.

Virginia Woman In D.C. For A Concert Murdered In Hotel Room

Christy Bautista reportedly yelled for help before she was stabbed to death on March 31 inside a hotel room in Washington, D.C.

Man Confesses To Killing His Uber Driver, Posting A Video Of The Attack On Facebook

A 29-year-old man allegedly told police he had wanted to kill someone on Dec. 8 and that he didn’t pick his victim, “Uber picked her.”

Colorado Security Guard Arrested For Murder Found With Severed Hand In His Pocket

After police in Pueblo, Colorado, discovered the decapitated body of a woman in a creek, they arrested a security guard who was found with a severed hand in his pocket.

A Massachusetts College Student’s 1986 Cold Case Murder Was Finally Solved 36 Years Later

20-year-old Claire Gravel spent the night of June 29, 1986 with friends at a pub. After she was dropped off at her Salem apartment early the next morning, she was never seen alive again.