1. Nicole Virzi charged with homicide in death of baby Leon Katz
2. Nicole Virzi charged with murder in the death of infant Leon Katz.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : A woman from Southern California has been accused of the tragic killing of a newborn baby and the abuse of the child’s twin brother during her visit to the parents in Western Pennsylvania. Nicole Elizabeth Virzi, aged 29, faces serious charges including homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child following the alleged incidents at an apartment in Shadyside, a suburb of Pittsburgh, as per Allegheny County court records.
The Pittsburgh Police Department took Virzi into custody on June 16, shortly after the reported crimes occurred at the residence where the children’s parents, Savannah Roberts and Ethan Katz, reside, located approximately 4.5 miles northeast of downtown Pittsburgh.
According to information found on the San Diego State University and UC San Diego website, Virzi is currently working towards a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at these institutions. She remains incarcerated without bail as of Tuesday, with a scheduled preliminary hearing at the Magisterial District Court in Pittsburgh set for July 24.
A distressing criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY revealed that on the evening of June 15, Virzi notified emergency services that the six-and-a-half-week-old baby she was caring for had sustained a head injury after falling from a bassinet and was now unresponsive. Tragically, the baby, identified as Leon Katz, was taken to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital and pronounced dead by a doctor before dawn the next day.
Further investigation revealed that prior to Leon’s injuries, his parents had taken his twin brother to the hospital after Virzi raised concerns about injuries to his genitals. While the parents were at the medical facility, Leon was left in Virzi’s care, as outlined in the complaint.
Following a thorough examination, a doctor concluded that the injuries sustained by both twins were consistent with child abuse and not accidental. The preliminary autopsy conducted by Dr. Arlel Goldschmidt from the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner determined that Leon’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, leading to the classification of his death as a homicide.
Virzi’s attorney, David Schrager, has stated that his client, who is a longtime friend of the family, denies any intentional wrongdoing. Schrager emphasized Virzi’s lack of a criminal record and her status as a Ph.D. student, adding that she had travelled from California to visit her friends in Pennsylvania and was staying in a nearby short-term rental at the time of the incident.
In response to the tragic events, an online fundraiser was initiated by Isabella Kahhalé and Sam Plateto to assist the family with financial burdens. The fundraiser, which was created five days ago, has already raised over $66,000 in donations to support the family during this difficult period.
“In addition to coping with the unbearable loss of their beloved son Leon, Savannah and Ethan are facing significant financial burdens,” the fundraiser organizers expressed on the donation page. The funds raised will go towards covering funeral expenses, medical bills, essential baby supplies, and relocation costs as the family navigates through this challenging time.
If you suspect a child is being abused, you can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org for assistance.
Natalie Neysa Alund, a senior reporter for USA TODAY, can be reached at nalund@usatoday.com for further inquiries. Follow her on X @nataliealund for updates on this developing story..
“Nicole Virzi charged with homicide baby Leon Katz”.
