28-year-old Lucy Letby was arrested for allegedly murdering eight babies and trying to kill another six.
Authorities are also investigating her connection to the deaths of 17 babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital from 2015 to 2016.
Police inspected not only her £180,000 home in Chester but also her parents’ house in Hereford. The nurse’s arrest is part of a year-long investigation into the babies’ deaths and 15 non-fatal collapses at the neonatal unit.
Liverpool Women’s Hospital announced that they are working with the authorities in the investigation. If Ms. Letby is convicted of murdering 8 defenseless babies, she would become Britain’s most prolific child killer.
“A healthcare worker currently involved in a police investigation undertook placements at Liverpool Women’s during their training,” Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation said in a statement.
“We are co-operating with police as part of their investigation which includes a routine review of patients cared for on our neonatal unit during the time of these placements. There is currently no suggestion that any patients at Liverpool Women’s came to any harm in relation to this investigation.”
After graduating from Chester University in 2011, Ms. Letby started working at Chester Hospital. She has been described as kind-hearted and has a clean record with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The 28-year-old was even the face of a campaign that aimed to raise £3 million for the unit.
During that time, she said, “I enjoy seeing them progress and supporting their families.”
Many discovered photos of Ms. Letby showed her posing on stripper’s pole, letting loose on night outs, making silly faces, and gobbling cocktails.
One of her friends described her as a ‘professional nurse’ who ‘wouldn’t heart a fly’ and was dedicated to her ‘dream job.’ She also said: “We’re still reeling from it to be honest. Even after sleeping on it I think everybody around here is still in a state of shock and disbelief.
“Lucy was doing the job she dreamed of doing and appeared nothing but dedicated and professional. You can’t imagine her hurting a fly let alone defenseless babies.”
Detective Inspector Paul Hughes described the nurse’s arrest as a ‘significant step forward.’ He also revealed that the scope of the probe had been widened and authorities are now investigating the care of 32 babies, 17 of whom passed away.
In 2013, two babies died on the unit, and three in 2014. Eight babies died in 2015 and five in 2016. These occurrences prompted the hospital to close three intensive care cots.
The hospital’s medical director Ian Harvey said that he is confident that the neonatal unit is now safe
Authorities said that the investigation is still ongoing, urging anyone with information to go through Crimestoppers or contact Operation Hummingbird detectives.
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