Valley News Dispatch

Harrison nurse charged with homicide of 2 patients worked at 11 medical facilities in the past 5 years

Kellen Stepler
By Kellen Stepler
2 Min Read May 25, 2023 | 3 years Ago
Go Ad-Free today

The Harrison woman charged by state authorities with allegedly killing two patients and injuring a third while she cared for them as a nurse had worked in 11 Western Pennsylvania medical facilities since 2018.

Heather Pressdee, 40, faces the following charges, according to court records: 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.

Authorities said Pressdee administered insulin to two patients who were not diabetic and one to a noninsulin-dependent diabetic at Quality Life Services nursing facility in Chicora, Butler County. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the charges Thursday.

State records indicate Pressdee was issued a veterinary technician license Aug. 15, 2006. It expired Nov. 30, 2016.

She then earned a graduate registered nurse permit, which was issued July 3, 2018, and expired after a year. Her registered nurse license was issued July 31, 2018, and is set to expire Oct. 31. It was last renewed in August 2021. It is still marked as active on the Pennsylvania Department of State website.


Related
Harrison nurse charged in deaths of 2 patients, injuries to another
Authorities: Pressdee patients timeline shows 'unusual, odd' patterns
Neighbors stunned by Harrison nurse's arrest

A criminal complaint filed in the case states that Pressdee was disciplined at each of her former nursing jobs for abusive behavior toward patients or staff, and either resigned or was fired from each facility.

Here are the places she previously worked, according to the complaint:

• October 2018-April 2019: Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville, Indiana Township

• April 2019-September 2019: Allegheny Valley Hospital, Natrona Heights, Harrison

• September 2019-January 2020: Platinum Ridge Center for Rehabilitation & Healing, Brackenridge

• February 2020-April 2020: Orchards of Saxonburg, Butler

• April 2020-October 2020: UPMC Passavant, McCandless

• October 2020-April 2021: Concordia at Rebecca Residence, West Deer

• April 2021-February 2022: Guardian Healthcare, operating as Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Lower Burrell

• March 2022-May 2022: Woodhaven Care Center, Monroeville

• May 2022-November 2022: Quality Life Services, Chicora, Butler County

• November 2022-December 2022: Premier Armstrong Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Kittanning

• January 2023-May 2023: Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Butler

Share

Tags:

About the Writers

Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.

Push Notifications

Get news alerts first, right in your browser.

Enable Notifications

Content you may have missed

Enjoy TribLIVE, Uninterrupted.

Support our journalism and get an ad-free experience on all your devices.

  • TribLIVE AdFree Monthly

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Pay just $4.99 for your first month
  • TribLIVE AdFree Annually BEST VALUE

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Billed annually, $49.99 for the first year
    • Save 50% on your first year
Get Ad-Free Access Now View other subscription options