Nicole Virzi's Case: A PhD Student Accused of Murdering a Baby

Nicole Virzi's Case Overview

Pittsburgh prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case of a woman accused of killing a 6-week-old baby and injuring his twin brother in June, a new court filing shows. Nicole Virzi, 30, a PhD student, was charged with homicide and multiple counts of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children.

Incident Details

The charges stem from an incident in June when Virzi was babysitting the twin boys of a couple she knew in Pittsburgh. According to a criminal complaint, Virzi called the police on the night of June 15, claiming that one of the twins had fallen from a bassinet.

• The baby, named Leon Katz, was rushed to a nearby children's hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
• The next evening, injuries to Leon's twin brother prompted further investigation.
• Doctors found that injuries were neither natural nor accidental.

Autopsy Findings

An examination by the medical examiner's office revealed that Leon had suffered from a severe skull fracture and multiple brain bleeds. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head, resulting from homicide.

Virzi's Defense

Virzi, who had been staying at an Airbnb property in Pittsburgh, stated she left Leon in a bouncer seat to retrieve a bottle. She claims he was screaming when she returned.

Virzi's defense attorney, David Shrager, asserted her innocence, stating,