Premature baby's in-home nurse told oxygen monitor to 'shut up,' muted alarms as infant suffered medical emergency: Police

A 65-year-old Florida in-home nurse accused of repeatedly silencing oxygen alarms instead of treating a medically fragile premature infant in her care is headed to trial after a judge rejected her plea deal during a tense courtroom exchange.

Sharlene Janet Pflugrad had been prepared to resolve a felony child neglect charge by entering a no-contest plea, but Lee County Judge Bruce Kyle refused to accept the agreement after Pflugrad appeared to equivocate when asked whether she agreed to its terms.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Cape Coral Police Department, Pflugrad was working an overnight shift on Sept. 15, 2025, caring for a premature infant born at 24 weeks who required continuous oxygen monitoring while sleeping.

The child's parents told investigators Pflugrad was required under the child's physician-approved care plan to administer up to two liters of oxygen, notify the parents, contact the nursing agency and, if necessary, call 911 whenever the child's oxygen saturation dropped below 88%.

Instead, investigators allege Pflugrad sent the child's mother a text message at 11:24 p.m. containing photographs showing oxygen readings of 81% and 79%, then failed to wake the parents or take the required emergency measures.

The child's mother said she did not discover the text until about 6:13 a.m. the following morning. After seeing the message, she and the child's father found their son still struggling to breathe. They attempted to raise his oxygen levels before calling 911 when four liters of oxygen failed to restore them to a safe range, according to the affidavit.

Police said home surveillance footage captured Pflugrad repeatedly muting the pulse oximeter's alarms throughout the night. Investigators reviewed 147 video clips that allegedly showed her silencing alerts, changing sensors several times, telling the monitor to "shut up," briefly performing chest cupping, and continuing to mute alarms without administering oxygen or contacting emergency services.

The infant was taken to Golisano Children's Hospital, where doctors diagnosed RSV bronchiolitis, respiratory acidosis and prolonged oxygen deprivation. A medical evaluation later concluded there was evidence of medical neglect, finding Pflugrad failed to perform even basic nursing assessments while the child remained in respiratory distress. The child ultimately recovered and was discharged the following day.

Investigators also sent the pulse oximeter to its manufacturer, Masimo, for testing after Pflugrad suggested the readings may have resulted from equipment problems. According to the affidavit, technicians found the monitor functioned properly and identified no defects.

Pflugrad declined to provide a statement to detectives, though investigators obtained a written statement she submitted to her employer, Aveanna Healthcare. In it, she wrote that she believed the oxygen readings were fluctuating because of sensor issues, repositioned the child, changed sensors several times and texted the child's mother but did not administer oxygen because she believed the readings did not remain low long enough to constitute an emergency.

Aveanna's internal investigation reached the opposite conclusion. According to records cited in the affidavit, company officials found Pflugrad failed to administer oxygen, perform required assessments or properly document the child's care. She was suspended without pay.

The affidavit also notes Pflugrad was previously investigated in 2024 in connection with another medically fragile child after detectives alleged she ignored multiple medical alerts that resulted in permanent brain damage. Prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges in that case.

Prosecutors had offered Pflugrad a plea agreement that would have required her to serve 364 days in the Lee County Jail followed by 48 months of probation, Fort Myers-based CBS affiliate WINK reported. The deal also would have required Pflugrad to forfeit her nursing license, have no contact with the victim or the victim's family, submit a DNA sample, and pay court costs.

However, during Monday's hearing, confusion arose after Pflugrad appeared uncertain regarding both her legal representation and her negotiated plea deal. Judge Kyle warned that if she rejected the plea, the case would proceed to trial immediately.

After more than an hour outside the courtroom, Pflugrad reportedly returned and indicated she wanted to accept the agreement. But when Kyle asked whether the signature on the plea form reflected that she agreed with its terms, she allegedly responded, "Not really, but."

Pflugrad's response was enough for the judge to reject the deal.

"See you tomorrow morning, 8:30 for trial," Kyle reportedly said. "I cannot accept the plea after that."

"No, I meant yes, sir," Pflugrad said as the judge spoke. "Please," she added repeatedly, as the judge appeared to ignore her and insist on seeing her at trial the following morning.

The station reported that Pflugrad pleaded with the judge to reconsider, but he refused. Pflugrad's trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, records show.

The post Premature baby's in-home nurse told oxygen monitor to 'shut up,' muted alarms as infant suffered medical emergency: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.