It’s hard enough to lose a loved one, but families of Heather PressdeeVictims say they lost their loved ones twice.
>> Families of victims of murderous nurse react to life imprisonment
In court, we heard heartbreaking stories and painful memories as family members faced Pressdee for the first and last time.
>> Killer nurse pleads guilty to killing and harming nursing home residents with insulin
“When I found out what happened to her, I cried. And I couldn’t stop crying,” wrote Tricia Hughes, daughter of Betty McQueenie.
“We knew that one day God would call our mother home. Unfortunately, God did not make that call for Peggy. Heather Pressdee made that call,” said Keith Laskovich, son of Marguerite “Peggy” Laskovich.
His tearful, emotional statements about the impact on the victims lasted for several hours as Pressdee sat emotionless.
All of the victims died in nursing homes under Pressdee’s care.
Two men and two women survived Pressdee’s attempts, but their families say they will never be the same.
Betty Hutchison, 95, suffered a stroke after Pressdee gave her insulin. Her family said she lost the use of her hands and speech.
“She can’t read the Bible on her own anymore, but we read and pray with her,” said Hutchison’s sister, Sherry Gibson.
If Pressdee’s sentencing had been a funeral, Gibson might have delivered the eulogy.
Her family is deeply religious and told Pressdee: “One day you will stand before another judge in a higher court. We have a promise from God that he still loves you.”
A moment of grace amidst the understandable and overwhelming anger was when Pressdee began to cry.
“I looked over and saw her taking out her tissue, wiping her eyes and saying, ‘Lord, you know best. You know what had to be said here. And with your help, I tried to say that,’” Gibson said.
For the most part, Pressdee appeared stoic and avoided eye contact during victim impact statements. She got emotional only twice.
Before she was sentenced, Pressdee cried, apologizing to the victims’ families and to herself, saying, “I’m sorry for what I did. I know I impacted a lot of people’s lives.”
The judge said the sentence handed down to Pressdee reflects the depravity of her actions and that she betrayed the trust of patients and families. “This brings accountability and atonement for their horrific crimes,” the judge said.
Pressdee will now spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole.
Below, we’ve included a few more excerpts from Thursday’s impact statements:
“She offered us chairs, tissues and condolences. This is another level of cruelty”, – Alecia Gallagher, granddaughter of Louise Skinner.
“Every family deserves justice from the first-degree murder charge my family received,” – Linda White, daughter of Gerald Shrum Sr.
“I hope you live to be 100,” – Marlene, relative of Jack Rogers.
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