A wrongful d*eath lawsuit was filed by the family of a woman who died in a Pennsylvania nursing home against a registered nurse who was already facing mur*der and other charges for administering lethal doses of insulin, ki*lling two patients and hospitalising a third.
Marianne Bower’s family filed a wrongful de*ath lawsuit this week alleging Heather Pressdee, 41, gave her an insulin overdose, causing her d*eath on Sept. 28, 2021. The lawsuit claims that administrators at Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre, where Pressdee worked, were aware of her “alarming history of resident abuse” at previous jobs, where she displayed “abusive tendencies and behaviour towards residents and staff,” according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Pressdee’s pattern of behaviour and residents’ unexpected deterioration was so concerning that several Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation nursing staff members dubbed her “The Ki*ller Nurse.” According to court documents, the administration became aware of the rumours but failed to take appropriate action in investigating Pressdee and disciplined and threatened to fire the nurses who discussed Pressdee’s care.
“It is unconscionable to allow her behaviour with patients to go unchecked despite multiple concerns from staff.” “No one who puts their loved one’s care in the hands of a facility should ever have to go through what Marianne Bower’s family is going through,” said Robert Peirce & Associates Managing Partner Rob Peirce in a statement.
Guardian Healthcare stated in a statement that Belair has hiring policies in place to vet potential employees’ qualifications and backgrounds. They stated that they take their responsibility seriously and will not hire anyone who could intentionally harm one of their residents.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families that have been impacted by Heather Pressdee’s actions and behaviour, especially Ms. Bower’s family,” said the statement. “While we cannot comment extensively about Ms. Bower’s residency at Belair due to privacy laws and pending litigation, our top priority is always to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our residents and to employ qualified, caring staff to deliver the care our residents deserve.”
In May, Pressdee was charged in the de*aths of two men, ages 55 and 83. Prosecutors said a third man, 73, survived after being rushed to the hospital. These victims were not identified. According to a news release from Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, Pressdee faces charges of mu*rder, criminal homicide, attempted mur*der, aggravated assault, neglect of a care-dependent person, and reckless endangerment.
“The allegations in this case outline the callous abuse of incredibly vulnerable patients by a professional nurse,” Henry stated. “These were deliberate and intentional acts perpetrated by a carer who was trusted to care for these victims, as the charges indicate.” Be assured that my office will vigorously seek justice for the families of those kil*led, as well as the third victim who was fortunate enough to survive.”
Investigators determined that the victims were under Pressdee’s care when they received insulin overdoses. The two men died on December 4, 2022 and December 25, 2022, respectively. Prosecutors said the surviving victim was given a potentially lethal insulin dose on August 31, 2022. According to officials, two of the three men were not diabetic.
According to authorities, Pressdee claimed she did it on purpose to alleviate their suffering.
“She felt bad for their quality of life, and she had hoped that they would just slip into a coma and pass away,” Pressdee said, according to the criminal complaint.
She allegedly claimed that the survivor, who was in COVID-19 isolation and struggling, asked her to k*ill him.
Pressdee is not facing criminal charges in connection with Bowers’ de*ath.
Bower was admitted to the facility in March 2020 with multiple sclerosis, and Pressdee was allegedly her nurse, according to the lawsuit.
Bower was initially thought to have died of respiratory arrest, but Bower’s family attorneys stated in court documents that last month, an agent from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office said Pressdee confessed to administering a “exogenous injection of a lethal dose of insulin” to Bower.
Bower did not have diabetes, according to her family’s lawyer.
According to the lawsuit, Pressdee worked at Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation until February 2022, when she was fired for “exhibiting abusive behaviour towards residents and other staff.”
The state suspended her licence indefinitely in July because she was charged with criminal offences and “is an immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety.”
Bower died peacefully at Belair, surrounded by her family, according to her obituary. She was described as a wonderful housewife, mother, and grandmother.
“Marianne enjoyed reading, shopping, jewellery and spending time with her family and loved ones,” according to the obituary. “She will be sadly missed.”
The lawsuit seeks damages for medical services and supplies related to Bower’s treatment and de*ath, as well as pain, suffering, embarrassment, humiliation, inconvenience, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life.
