PA - infant Leon Katz murdered, twin injured, allegedly by babysitter, Pittsburgh- June 24, 2024

[SMK777]

Did they just rush out with the injured twin, not suspecting her, rushed out in a big hurry, and leaved her with Leon?

Snipped for focus.
Yes, that’s what it sounds like: She pointed out the genital issue, which they did not suspect her of, and they rushed with the baby to Children’s Hospital, leaving his twin in the care of Virzi — never dreaming they would come back to a dead infant.

And then police were told by the pediatrician from the hospital that both twins had been intentionally injured:

“The injuries sustained by both (twins are) consistent with having been sustained as a result of child abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that are not natural and not accidental," a doctor informed detectives, according to the criminal complaint

So apparently this doctor’s statement made the whole case, and it is this statement that Virzi’s attorneys are attacking, by saying she did nothing wrong and would never harm her friends’ babies.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Snipped for focus.
Yes, that’s what it sounds like: She pointed out the genital issue, which they did not suspect her of, and they rushed with the baby to Children’s Hospital, leaving his twin in the care of Virzi — never dreaming they would come back to a dead infant.

And then police were told by the pediatrician from the hospital that both twins had been intentionally injured:

“The injuries sustained by both (twins are) consistent with having been sustained as a result of child abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that are not natural and not accidental," a doctor informed detectives, according to the criminal complaint

So apparently this doctor’s statement made the whole case, and it is this statement that Virzi’s attorneys are attacking, by saying she did nothing wrong and would never harm her friends’ babies.

The neurosurgeons from Children’s Hospital will be able to provide clear evidence that the infant’s skull injuries were not a result of a fall from a bouncer.

They see injuries all the time from short falls, as well as from longer building-level falls, and car crashes with more velocity. They can tell (and demonstrate) the difference between injuries from a drop/fall vs. forceful impact.

jmo

 

[SMK777]

The neurosurgeons from Children’s Hospital will be able to provide clear evidence that the infant’s skull injuries were not a result of a fall from a bouncer.

They see injuries all the time from short falls, as well as from longer building-level falls, and car crashes with more velocity. They can tell (and demonstrate) the difference between injuries from a drop/fall vs. forceful impact.

jmo

In that case the defense will have nothing, unless they try and implicate the parents. The doctor also said the genital injury on the other twin was from child abuse.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

In that case the defense will have nothing, unless they try and implicate the parents. The doctor also said the genital injury on the other twin was from child abuse.

As mentioned earlier, there was much FB buzz in June, trying to implicate parents, but just rather bizarre speculation.
I still find it rather amazing how little coverage this is getting. And I have seen nothing from friends, relatives, acquaintances who claim to know more about HER.

 

[SMK777]

As mentioned earlier, there was much FB buzz in June, trying to implicate parents, but just rather bizarre speculation.
I still find it rather amazing how little coverage this is getting. And I have seen nothing from friends, relatives, acquaintances who claim to know more about HER.

Yes, it’s all very strange and in terms of her being a PhD candidate in psychology and the daughter of a prominent specialist, you’d at least like to think she could babysit for dear friends without a catastrophe of these proportions. Yes, it would be helpful to get more information, but it may be part of the defense strategy to advise family and friends not to speak at this time?

What confuses me is that you’d assume that a young woman in her position would be on her best behavior when watching the babies of dear friends— if only from self protection. Why would she even allow her own life to be destroyed this way? It’s baffling to me, unless she has some kind of substance abuse issue that would have her out of control?

 

[Mauig’ma]

Maybe the media was being inclusive, here are her pronouns, per her page.

NICOLE VIRZI, M.S.​

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Doctoral Student
2019-Present
SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
Behavioral Medicine
San Diego

This Page is Under Maintenance – Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Program

psychology.sdsu.edu

This just kills me. A degree in clinical psychology. Wth and with all her schooling she learns nothing about patience and self control? Truly a cruel and vile human being imo

 

[Curious Me]

My questions have more to do with her coming across the country, not even staying in the family's home, but somehow being allowed to apparently change the twin's diapers, or get near his genital's in the first place.

Not to fault the parents because I still don't know how this all came about, and trusting the wrong people happens; however, why would a visitor be left with your child to know about his genitals. All I'm conveying is I wouldn't just let out of town guests start changing my baby's diapers or trust someone visiting with the care of my young infants. How well did they really know this woman?​

 

[SMK777]

My questions have more to do with her coming across the country, not even staying in the family's home, but somehow being allowed to apparently change the twin's diapers, or get near his genital's in the first place.

Not to fault the parents because I still don't know how this all came about, but why would a visitor be left with your child to know about his genitals. All I'm conveying is I wouldn't just let out of town guests start changing my baby's diapers or trust someone visiting with the care of my young infants. How well did they really know this woman?​

The attorney had described them as close, and “dear friends”. It was presumed that she was babysitting, with changing diapers being part of that. She was staying at a local Airbnb and the couple had an apartment— maybe no room for her….

 

[ChatteringBirds]

The parents trusted her so much that it didn't occur to them that she was the one who had injured their baby. They must have believed they knew her very well. I imagine she came across as happy to babysit and very concerned about the injured baby. IMO.

Parents are allowed to take a break for a few hours while their friend babysits.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

The parents trusted her so much that it didn't occur to them that she was the one who had injured their baby. They must have believed they knew her very well. I imagine she came across as happy to babysit and very concerned about the injured baby. IMO.

Parents are allowed to take a break for a few hours while their friend babysits.

Also just wondering about her experience caring for newborns, never mind 2 of them. And what the nature of their prior relationship was? I'm sure more will come out. JMOOO.

 

[Curious Me]

MOO, these twins were only six weeks old though. Usually you don't want to leave your infants with people just visiting the city. Am I the only one that thinks it's odd she was asked to babysit and left with such young infants? She was an out of town guest not even staying with them.

The media is making it sound like they were such close friends, but I can't assume they were all that close to understand why she was just visiting and left to care for a 6 week old infant(s). MOO, the friendship between the twin's mother and the visiting friend doesn't sound all that close.

Here's all I've gathered so far about this so called close friendship. How did it get to be such a close connection? Was it more of an email type association than knowing her as a in-person friend? How long was she there in PA?​

PhD student accused of murdering close friend’s newborn baby, abusing tot’s twin is daughter of prominent NYC cardiologist

The friend said she did not know Virzi to be violent but said she said she “had some interpersonal issues. I would say she was a little rigid. She was nice. But very driven and motivated.&#82…

nypost.com

Virzi and Roberts were doctoral students at different universities — Roberts was studying at the University of Pittsburgh — but both were focused on eating disorders, trauma and body image.

Virzi was referred to as a “trusted family friend” in the go fund established to help the grieving parents and their surviving son.

[...]

Virzi had been staying in a nearby Airbnb on South Graham Street in the hipster Shadyside neighborhood when she was asked to care for the baby, who was “alert, conscious and not injured,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by Pittsburgh’s TRIBLive.

[...]

It was not clear why Virzi was in Pittsburgh, but there were traces of the friendship between the two women online.

Virzi’s X account is now protected, making her messages inaccessible.

But Roberts made reference to her at least twice, once in Jan. 2022 where she referred to Virzi’s “incredible work” and once in May 2021 when she wrote a post to Virzi saying: “You are going to do an AMAZING job! I can’t wait to hear about your experience.”​

 

[Curious Me]

Doesn't sound like she was there in PA for even a week before this all came down, but I need more facts. This happened on the couple's first wedding anniversary and Fathers Day! Begging for more details here to try to understand. How did she just come into town and have been trusted to be left alone and be noticing the one twin's genitals? Was she offering to change diapers and babysit them? The twins were only six weeks old, and it's really horrifying if she did purposely harm them. It's hard to accept there are people who want to hurt innocent, adorable babies. Leon was precious, and I'm sad for the parents and his twin.

Ph.D student accused of killing baby talked depression before attack

A video posted days before Ph.D student Nicole Virzi allegedly killed a friend's baby shows the academic discussing a paper she wrote about depression in women.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Three days after the video was posted, the UC San Diego doctoral student of clinical psychology was watching her friends' two babies, Leon and Ari, while on college break.

After being entrusted with the two infants, Virzi was arrested and charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week old Leon at his home in Pittsburgh, on what was his dad's first Father's Day -- and his parents' first wedding anniversary.​

 

[iamshadow21]

Doesn't sound like she was there in PA for even a week before this all came down, but I need more facts. This happened on the couple's first wedding anniversary and Fathers Day! Begging for more details here to try to understand. How did she just come into town and have been trusted to be left alone and be noticing the one twin's genitals? Was she offering to change diapers and babysit them? The twins were only six weeks old, and it's really horrifying if she did purposely harm them. It's hard to accept there are people who want to hurt innocent, adorable babies. Leon was precious, and I'm sad for the parents and his twin.

Ph.D student accused of killing baby talked depression before attack

A video posted days before Ph.D student Nicole Virzi allegedly killed a friend's baby shows the academic discussing a paper she wrote about depression in women.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Three days after the video was posted, the UC San Diego doctoral student of clinical psychology was watching her friends' two babies, Leon and Ari, while on college break.

After being entrusted with the two infants, Virzi was arrested and charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week old Leon at his home in Pittsburgh, on what was his dad's first Father's Day -- and his parents' first wedding anniversary.​

That doesn't strike me as a coincidence. That's calculated for maximum suffering.

I'm reminded of Letby. She attacked very young vulnerable babies, sometimes on significant days to hurt the families more.

MOO

 

[Curious Me]

Virzi remains in the Allegheny County Jail. Her formal arraignment is set for Aug. 23. That's when the case will be assigned to a judge and she'll enter her plea.

San Diego woman faces trial in killing of one Pittsburgh baby twin, assault on other

Nicole Virzi, a 29-year-old psychology doctoral student, was brought from jail to court for the proceeding and the courtroom was filled with family and friends of the parents of the twins, who were present as well.

www.wtae.com

​

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I wonder if she offered to babysit so they could go out for their anniversary? And they accepted the offer? Or how exactly the arrangement came about?

 

[ifindedout]

IMO this case has parallels with another current case, TP from Georgia Southwestern State University, only the latter involved a single child and the accused a college freshman.

 

[SMK777]

I wonder if she offered to babysit so they could go out for their anniversary? And they accepted the offer? Or how exactly the arrangement came about?

Right. If it was Father’s Day plus their anniversary it would be natural to offer to sit for them and allow them a night off. The question is how did it go so horribly wrong? One babysitting stint should not be such a huge deal for a responsible 29 year old.

Also did she come from San Diego to Pittsburgh specifically to see this couple? I don’t recall reading anything about exactly why she was there.

 

[SMK777]

IMO this case has parallels with another current case, TP from Georgia Southwestern State University, only the latter involved a single child and the accused a college freshman.

But in that case, an immature person at college was being burdened with her boyfriend’s baby. In this case, a 29 year old PhD student in town to see friends presumably could handle a night of babysitting. Or at least it seems that way to me….

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I thihnk

MOO, these twins were only six weeks old though. Usually you don't want to leave your infants with people just visiting the city. Am I the only one that thinks it's odd she was asked to babysit and left with such young infants? She was an out of town guest not even staying with them.

The media is making it sound like they were such close friends, but I can't assume they were all that close to understand why she was just visiting and left to care for a 6 week old infant(s). MOO, the friendship between the twin's mother and the visiting friend doesn't sound all that close.

Here's all I've gathered so far about this so called close friendship. How did it get to be such a close connection? Was it more of an email type association than knowing her as a in-person friend?​

It sounds more like an online acquaintance in the same academic niche field. Has it been clarified if she had ANY experience caring for infants at all, never mind two NEWBORNS?

An attack on the genitals of the first baby is so specific and extreme, makes me wonder if she has some sort of trauma history or fixation.

Those poor babies. I think she will try to smear the parents and shift any responsibility.

 

[ifindedout]

I thihnk

It sounds more like an online acquaintance in the same academic niche field. Has it been clarified if she had ANY experience caring for infants at all, never mind two NEWBORNS?

Or any experience childsitting...at all?