Heather Pressdee
Heather Pressdee | |
|---|---|
Pressdee mugshot, 2023 | |
| Born | August 28, 1982 |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Convictions | First degree murder (3 counts) Attempted murder (19 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | 3 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 380 to 760 years |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3 confirmed, up to 17 possible |
Span of crimes | 2022–2023 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
Date apprehended | May 25, 2023 |
Heather Irene Pressdee (born August 28, 1982) is an American registered nurse and convicted serial killer.[1] She is serving life imprisonment, having been convicted of murdering three patients by lethal injection, and is connected to the deaths of 17 in total, which took place in Western Pennsylvania.
Early life
The daughter of Michael and Bonita Pressdee, Pressdee was born on August 28, 1982. She is the oldest of two children. From 2003 to 2004, she attended the Community College of Allegheny County, although she did not graduate. She went on to become a registered veterinary technician before returning to get her nursing degree.[2]
Crimes
Pressdee had intentionally administered lethal doses of insulin to nursing patients throughout five nursing homes in Pennsylvania. The first two victims she was charged with murdering were 55-year-old James Bartoe and 83-year-old Joseph Campbell, both of whom had died on December 4 and 25, 2022, respectively.[3] Her third victim was 43-year-old Nicholas Cymbol, who died on May 1, 2023.[4]
Pressdee claimed she believed she was ending the suffering of a lot of people by doing what she did.[5]
Arrest and trial
Pressdee was arrested in May 2023. She had been charged in relation to three murders and 19 attempts to commit murder.[6] In total, she is connected to the deaths of 17 patients.[7][8] In order to avoid the death penalty, Pressdee pleaded guilty on all counts.[2] The murders in which she ultimately pleaded guilty to were of James Bartoe, 55, Gerald Shrum, 90 and Nicholas Cymbol, 43.[9] On May 2, 2024, she was sentenced to three consecutive terms of life imprisonment, as well as 380 to 760 additional years.[6] She is currently incarcerated at SCI Muncy.[10]
See also
References
- ^ Shipkowski, Bruce; Schultz, Brooke (November 2, 2023). "A Pennsylvania nurse is accused of killing 4 patients, injuring others with high doses of insulin". WITF-TV. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Guza, Megan (May 2, 2024). "'Killer nurse' Heather Pressdee pleads guilty in deaths of 17 Western Pa. nursing home patients". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ Natalie Neysa Alund (May 26, 2023). "Pennsylvania nurse charged with homicide in patient deaths: 'Deliberate and intentional'". USA Today.
- ^ Bartos, Madeline; Guidotti, Ross (March 27, 2024). "Another Pittsburgh-area care facility hit with lawsuit for employing nurse accused of killing patients with insulin". CBS News.
- ^ Limehouse, Jonathan. "'Pure evil': Pennsylvania nurse connected to 17 patient deaths sentenced to hundreds of years". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Balarajan, Brammhi; Sykes, Jillian; Alvarado, Caroll; Yan, Holly (May 3, 2024). "'She's pure evil': Nurse gets life in prison after admitting she intentionally gave patients excess insulin, prosecutors say". CNN. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ Mayorquín, Orlando (November 3, 2023). "Former Pennsylvania Nurse Is Linked to 17 Nursing Home Deaths". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ "Western Pa. Nurse Charged with Additional Crimes for Administering Excessive Doses of Insulin to 19 More Patients". Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ Ward, Paula (May 2, 2024). "'She is evil personified': Victims' families face killer nurse Heather Pressdee in court". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- ^ "Inmate/Parolee Locator". inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov. Retrieved May 28, 2024.