Harrison nurse charged in deaths of 2 patients, injuries to another

A Harrison woman is charged with killing two patients and injuring a third while she cared for them as a nurse.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced charges Thursday against Heather Pressdee, 40, who is accused of administering unnecessary doses of insulin to patients, resulting in the deaths of two men and injuries to another man.

Pressdee is charged with two counts of homicide, one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault, three counts of neglect of a care-dependent person and three counts of reckless endangerment, according to court records.

Investigators say Pressdee administered insulin to two patients who were nondiabetic and one to a noninsulin-­dependent diabetic at Quality Life Services nursing facility in Chicora, Butler County.

The insulin administration led to medical emergencies for all three patients and caused the death of two, the Attorney General’s Office said.

Mary Susan Tack-Yurek, chief quality officer for Quality Life Services, said the ongoing investigation prevents her company from releasing details about the case, but she gave the following statement:

“As a family-owned organization that prides itself on providing safe and compassionate care, Quality Life Services is shocked and devastated to learn that the charges brought against Ms. Pressdee by the Attorney General’s Office include alleged illegal activity that occurred at our QLS-Chicora facility.

“We will continue to fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s Office as needed in the investigation and prosecution of this matter. We can assure our community, our residents, our families and our staff that all residents of Quality Life Services-Chicora are safe and are receiving appropriate care and services.”

Pressdee is charged with homicide in the death of a 55-year-old man, who died Dec. 4, and an 83-year-old man, who died on Christmas Day. The third victim, a 73-year-old man, survived an Aug. 31 insulin administration after an emergency hospitalization.

Henry said the allegations against Pressdee outline callous abuse of vulnerable patients.

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“As the charges indicate, these were deliberate and intentional acts perpetrated by a caregiver who was trusted to care for these victims,” Henry said in a statement. “Be assured, my office will zealously pursue justice for the families of those who were killed, as well as the third victim who is fortunate to have survived.”

Pressdee told investigators that two of the patients were immobile, one of whom was in hospice care, according to the criminal complaint.

She admitted to investigators that she administered insulin to the two who died and that “she felt bad for their quality of life and she hoped that they would just slip into a coma and pass away,” according to the complaint.

She was arrested Wednesday at her home in the Natrona Heights section of Harrison. Pressdee was denied bond and is being held at the Butler County jail.

Pressdee has worked as a nurse at 11 facilities in the region, including Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, UPMC Passavant hospital in McCandless, Platinum Ridge Center for Rehabilitation & Healing in Brackenridge, Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Lower Burrell and Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Indiana Township.

According to the complaint, Pressdee was disciplined at each location for abusive behavior toward patients or staff and resigned or was fired from each facility.

When asked if there were potentially other victims at other medical facilities, Brett Hambright of the Attorney General’s Office said, “Most I can say at this time is the investigation is active and ongoing.”