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

[katsrfun]

You are probably correct although there are pretty striking variations in proportions across babies. And these babies were twins so one could reach the other if they slept in one crib as young twins sometimes do. I'm not arguing that's what happened but I'm not yet convinced NV harmed Ari. If nothing else, it doesn't appear she was alone with him except during the diaper change where she said discovered the injury. And IMO the doctors didn't see this as abuse until later. They let the parents leave the hospital with the baby, something that IMO wouldn't have happened had the doctors called CPS.
MOO

If the babies were in a crib or bassinette together, they would both very likely be in diapers. How would one have access to the other's genital area. Plus, they do not have much control of where the hands/arms go at that age, so how would he be able to have access to his brother's genital area, and not just one scratch, but repeatedly? Thanks. MOO Katt

 

[Tortoise]

I would still believe that NV may be innocent in some way IF only one baby was injured under her care. Both babies injured or dead; no, I find that too incredible to be accidental or coincidental.

RSBM

Yes. I wholeheartedly agree.

It is highly improbable that twins would acquire non-accidental injuries, causing death to one of them, by two different perpetrators, on the same day, both 'discovered' by the accused, a non-parent, while they were in her immediate care.

On the face of it.

On AK, that includes bruising (that is subcutaneous bleeding), and swelling, to areas protected by clothing and a diaper, not just a few scratches.

JMO

 

[Curious Me]

The Airbnb message she sent to them said she wouldn't be checking in until 11:30 p.m. June 13th. So, she was only there a few days when this happened.

Nicole Virzi returned to Airbnb distraught after baby killing

Video exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com shows Nicole Virzi, 29, returning to her Airbnb rental in Pittsburgh shortly after midnight June 16, appearing distraught and anxious.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Court papers state that after the 911 call for Leon, the dad, E, rushed home, arriving just as paramedics pulled up. As Leon was transported to the hospital by ambulance, E and Virzi drove to the hospital separately.

The accused killer didn't stay there long. The Airbnb surveillance footage shows Virzi arriving back at her rental at 12:53am on June 16 a little more than 90 minutes from the time paramedics were called.

[...]

As she headed in for the night, Leon was barely clinging to life. The baby was pronounced dead at 5:47am the morning of June 16.​

 

[Tortoise]

The Airbnb message she sent to them said she wouldn't be checking in until 11:30 p.m. June 13th. So, she was only there a few days when this happened.

Nicole Virzi returned to Airbnb distraught after baby killing

Video exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com shows Nicole Virzi, 29, returning to her Airbnb rental in Pittsburgh shortly after midnight June 16, appearing distraught and anxious.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Court papers state that after the 911 call for Leon, the dad, E, rushed home, arriving just as paramedics pulled up. As Leon was transported to the hospital by ambulance, E and Virzi drove to the hospital separately.

The accused killer didn't stay there long. The Airbnb surveillance footage shows Virzi arriving back at her rental at 12:53am on June 16 a little more than 90 minutes from the time paramedics were called.

[...]

As she headed in for the night, Leon was barely clinging to life. The baby was pronounced dead at 5:47am the morning of June 16.​

So Leon was pronounced dead at 5.47am and this article says ..."police were already on their way to Virzi's Airbnb at that moment. The video shows her stepping out of her rental at 5.45am. She reached for her phone and made a phone call. She then waited on the sidewalk. Police cars pulled up at 5.50pm (typo prob. should be a.m.). Two officers hopped out and could be seen confronting her on the sidewalk, before leading her into the patrol car."

I wonder if she was waiting for a taxi. I can't tell from the photo if she had any luggage at her feet or had intended to check out. Probably the article would have mentioned it if that was the case, but they make it sound like she was fleeing, with another line saying she "made a hasty exit".

JMO

 

[Curious Me]

So Leon was pronounced dead at 5.47am and this article says ..."police were already on their way to Virzi's Airbnb at that moment. The video shows her stepping out of her rental at 5.45am. She reached for her phone and made a phone call. She then waited on the sidewalk. Police cars pulled up at 5.50pm (typo prob. should be a.m.). Two officers hopped out and could be seen confronting her on the sidewalk, before leading her into the patrol car."

I wonder if she was waiting for a taxi. I can't tell from the photo if she had any luggage at her feet or had intended to check out. Probably the article would have mentioned it if that was the case, but they make it sound like she was fleeing, with another line saying she "made a hasty exit".

JMO​

I have to get to bed after this post. Staying up too late again.

Thanks, @Tortoise. I see what you're pointing out and where it says that. Sounds like it was the same morning the baby passed away, but further down under the photo it says a few days. So, confusing. I don't think she had luggage with her and may have been expecting LE? Or going to see the parents, but that'd be awkward. (Sorry, too tired to think.) Of note-- I thought she had a rental car because in the quote I posted she and the twin's father drove separate cars to the hospital.

Watch the video at the top of the page of her coming out. I don't see her with any luggage, just holding her phone. (Screenshots from video I took are above.)


What it say under the photo in the article:
She can be seen stepping outside and making a phone call before police swooped in and took her into custody a few days later. She was taken to police headquarters for questioning, where she agreed to speak without a lawyer present

Nicole Virzi returned to Airbnb distraught after baby killing

Video exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com shows Nicole Virzi, 29, returning to her Airbnb rental in Pittsburgh shortly after midnight June 16, appearing distraught and anxious.

www.dailymail.co.uk

​

 

[Tortoise]

I have to get to bed after this post. Staying up too late again.

I see where it says that, like it was the same morning the baby passed away, but further down under the photo it says a few days. So, confusing. Also, I thought she had a rental car because in the quote I posted she and the twin's father drove separate cars to the hospital.

View attachment 527910View attachment 527909 Watch the video at the top of the page of her coming out. I don't see her with any luggage, just holding her phone. ( Screenshots from video I took are above.)

What it say under the photo in the article:
She can be seen stepping outside and making a phone call before police swooped in and took her into custody a few days later. She was taken to police headquarters for questioning, where she agreed to speak without a lawyer present

View attachment 527908

Nicole Virzi returned to Airbnb distraught after baby killing

Video exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com shows Nicole Virzi, 29, returning to her Airbnb rental in Pittsburgh shortly after midnight June 16, appearing distraught and anxious.

www.dailymail.co.uk

​

I think the photo caption is more sloppy reporting. The article words it as if it's the same time Leon died, with police already making their way to her address.

The PCA doesn't actually say separate cars, it says they drove to the hospital separately. This could also mean they were together but drove separately from the ambulance transporting Leon, IMO.

 

[IDK]

I have to get to bed after this post. Staying up too late again.

Thanks, @Tortoise. I see what you're pointing out and where it says that. Sounds like it was the same morning the baby passed away, but further down under the photo it says a few days. So, confusing. I don't think she had luggage with her and may have been expecting LE? Or going to see the parents, but that'd be awkward. (Sorry, too tired to think.) Of note-- I thought she had a rental car because in the quote I posted she and the twin's father drove separate cars to the hospital.

View attachment 527910View attachment 527909 Watch the video at the top of the page of her coming out. I don't see her with any luggage, just holding her phone. (Screenshots from video I took are above.)


What it say under the photo in the article:
She can be seen stepping outside and making a phone call before police swooped in and took her into custody a few days later. She was taken to police headquarters for questioning, where she agreed to speak without a lawyer present

View attachment 527908

Nicole Virzi returned to Airbnb distraught after baby killing

Video exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com shows Nicole Virzi, 29, returning to her Airbnb rental in Pittsburgh shortly after midnight June 16, appearing distraught and anxious.

www.dailymail.co.uk

​

In the photo of her on the phone, it looks like she may have just received the news of Leon’s death.

So horrible.

 

[seasideForest]

If the babies were in a crib or bassinette together, ... Plus, they do not have much control of where the hands/arms go at that age, so how would he be able to have access to his brother's genital area, and not just one scratch, but repeatedly? Thanks. MOO Katt

Yes, thank you. My brain isn't finding the words it needs apparently, but that's the point I was aiming for a few pages back with "flailing arms" etc. Little babies don't have much control over their arm movements.

I've just checked a baby milestone's list Baby development milestones and see that the first named milestone with hands/arms "brings hands together over chest and chin" is at 2 months, achieved by half of babies. Further milestones like batting at a toy 3 months and attempting to grasp 4 months.

Of course some babies develop faster than others and being able to scratch own tummy and further down is unlikely to be on a milestone list.
MOO

 

[NCWatcher]

If the babies were in a crib or bassinette together, they would both very likely be in diapers. How would one have access to the other's genital area. Plus, they do not have much control of where the hands/arms go at that age, so how would he be able to have access to his brother's genital area, and not just one scratch, but repeatedly? Thanks. MOO Katt

Grabbing a diaper in the genital area from the outside could definitely cause redness. And sometimes diapers do get loosened. We have not seen the picture of the child's genital area (nor should we) so I'm not sure how many scratches there are or what they look like. Other posters have pointed out an unusually rough patch on a flawed diaper could cause a scratch. And it seems to me some sorts of clothing could also, especially if there was a grab or if straps placed between the legs for various kinds of seats were too tight or the baby slid down. (He was in a car seat that day for the group outing.) Or a hair from an adult could have wrapped around and caused redness. That sometimes happens with a baby's limb.

I don't know what happened. And while the parents did take the child to the hospital

1. NV only arrived that day. It doesn't appear NV was alone with the baby until that final diaper change when the injury was purportedly discovered. So when did she do it? Wouldn't the baby have cried? Alot?

2. The Times account posted above by @SMK777 says they went to the hospital after the mom woke up. It didn't sound like she was waked up to go by the father. So at least he wasn't panicking.

3. The couple seemed to have no qualms about leaving Leon in NV's care while they took Ari to the hospital.

4. The doctors now say abuse but it seems they may not have reported it to CPS as abuse at the time. The parents were allowed to leave the hospital with Ari in their care, after all. And he'd been in their care prior to the injury. I'm not saying they did it but the hospital couldn't know one of them didn't.
MOO

 

[SMK777]

Grabbing a diaper in the genital area from the outside could definitely cause redness. And sometimes diapers do get loosened. We have not seen the picture of the child's genital area (nor should we) so I'm not sure how many scratches there are or what they look like. Other posters have pointed out an unusually rough patch on a flawed diaper could cause a scratch. And it seems to me some sorts of clothing could also, especially if there was a grab or if straps placed between the legs for various kinds of seats were too tight or the baby slid down. (He was in a car seat that day for the group outing.) Or a hair from an adult could have wrapped around and caused redness. That sometimes happens with a baby's limb.

I don't know what happened. And while the parents did take the child to the hospital

1. NV only arrived that day. It doesn't appear NV was alone with the baby until that final diaper change when the injury was purportedly discovered. So when did she do it? Wouldn't the baby have cried? Alot?

2. The Times account posted above by @SMK777 says they went to the hospital after the mom woke up. It didn't sound like she was waked up to go by the father. So at least he wasn't panicking.

3. The couple seemed to have no qualms about leaving Leon in NV's care while they took Ari to the hospital.

4. The doctors now say abuse but it seems they may not have reported it to CPS as abuse at the time. The parents were allowed to leave the hospital with Ari in their care, after all. And he'd been in their care prior to the injury. I'm not saying they did it but the hospital couldn't know one of them didn't.
MOO

All very pertinent points.
Actually, when my son was an infant we did take him to the ER for genital swelling, and as you mentioned above, it was in fact that one of my blond and nearly invisible hairs and fallen into the diaper area and gotten wrapped around the male member. My sister had similar happen with one of her baby daughter’s toes. Prior to these incidents we’d never heard of this phenomenon, but the doctors assured us it is actually quite common.

I do believe that if there had been no incident with the second baby Leon, the first baby incident would likely not have been reported as child abuse.

 

[NCWatcher]

All very pertinent points.
Actually, when my son was an infant we did take him to the ER for genital swelling, and as you mentioned above, it was in fact that one of my blond and nearly invisible hairs and fallen into the diaper area and gotten wrapped around the male member. My sister had similar happen with one of her baby daughter’s toes. Prior to these incidents we’d never heard of this phenomenon, but the doctors assured us it is actually quite common.

I do believe that if there had been no incident with the second baby Leon, the first baby incident would likely not have been reported as child abuse.

Interesting. I'd heard of hairs wrapping around wrists, ankles fingers and toes. Not other areas but it seemed very possible to me.
MOO

 

[sunspun]

1. NV only arrived that day. It doesn't appear NV was alone with the baby until that final diaper change when the injury was purportedly discovered. So when did she do it?

I thought she had been in town a few days before this. And what happened to the story of the parents going out for a date night for their anniversary/Father's Day, and having NV babysit both babies while they were out? Was that all reported wrong at first?

RE: waiting til the mom woke up to take A to the ER... maybe the dad felt a little clueless about babies and/or typically deferred baby decisions to the mom, so waited til she woke up to see what she wanted to do. And when she did, she saw what was going on and said, let's get him to the ER just in case.

 

[SMK777]

Interesting. I'd heard of hairs wrapping around wrists, ankles fingers and toes. Not other areas but it seemed very possible to me.
MOO

Yes, as stated, my husband and I were very surprised to learn that this was the cause of the swelling. And to hear from the doctor that it was quite a common occurrence.

 

[SMK777]

I thought she had been in town a few days before this. And what happened to the story of the parents going out for a date night for their anniversary/Father's Day, and having NV babysit both babies while they were out? Was that all reported wrong at first?

RE: waiting til the mom woke up to take A to the ER... maybe the dad felt a little clueless about babies and/or typically deferred baby decisions to the mom, so waited til she woke up to see what she wanted to do. And when she did, she saw what was going on and said, let's get him to the ER just in case.

In retrospect it’s really a shame that they did not have NV come along with Leon to the ER to watch him. How differently all would have turned out.

 

[NCWatcher]

I thought she had been in town a few days before this. And what happened to the story of the parents going out for a date night for their anniversary/Father's Day, and having NV babysit both babies while they were out? Was that all reported wrong at first?

RE: waiting til the mom woke up to take A to the ER... maybe the dad felt a little clueless about babies and/or typically deferred baby decisions to the mom, so waited til she woke up to see what she wanted to do. And when she did, she saw what was going on and said, let's get him to the ER just in case.

Those celebration stories were circulating early on but seem to have mostly died out. The stories also don't seem consistent with the PCA. The PCA probably has errors too. But general times and where the parents were is probably not wrong unless the parents aren't being honest to LE. I'm not saying that's happening but I guess anything is possible.

I'm not sure when the anniversary dinner or Father's Day celebration was supposed to be. Father's Day was Sun Aug 16 not Sat Aug 15. And it appears their wedding anniversary was Aug 6. https://www.westelm.com/registry/h92crc79p8/registry-list.html
Some stories also throw in it was E's birthday too. I'm not sure how that was verified or if it was.

If NV had been there a few days and had come east to "babysit" not to visit her friend SR as some stories claim, that seems very odd to me. Perhaps the couple has no other trusted friends or family nearby to babysit but flying across the country so friends can go out to eat? Seems odd to me. Plus, if the genital injury happened earlier, didn't either parent change a diaper to see it? Or was NV changing all the diapers? She was staying at a Airbnb blocks away not at the couple's house so how would that have been possible?

I can see dad deferring decisions but it still seems odd to me he didn't wake her up if there was an obvious injury. Of course, as several posters have suggested, maybe it wasn't that obvious at the time, but was in hindsight only after Leon was injured.
MOO

 

[SMK777]

I can see dad deferring decisions but it still seems odd to me he didn't wake her up if there was an obvious injury. Of course, as several posters have suggested, maybe it wasn't that obvious at the time, but was in hindsight only after Leon was injured.
MOO

SBM
This is the crux of it.

 

[acutename]

sorry have not read this whole thread... have they specified an actual COD for the little boy who died?

 

[SMK777]

sorry have not read this whole thread... have they specified an actual COD for the little boy who died?

I have not seen an official COD but the Children’s Hospital physician reported there was skull fracture from blunt force trauma [not from accidental or natural causes] and several brain hemorrhages, so sadly that pretty much gives the picture of why the infant is deceased.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

One concern though based on your post-- visible bruises from force (if that's what these were-- we don't know that for sure) can take some time to form. When were the injuries supposed to have happened if visible bruises were there

IMO Bruising can appear very quickly after an injury. What's interesting in this case is that there was a photo of the injuries taken at the alleged scene by the alleged perpetrator.

 

[Occam's Zebra]

What was the diagnosis for Ari? It sounds as if he could have had a UTI - those are common in boys under 6 months and some of the symptoms match up. Has there been any reporting on what the ER doc determined?

I also can imagine being strapped in to multiple seats (car seat, bouncer) could cause redness and swelling if the genitals were compressed in an unnatural way. The blood, though, would suggest a UTI IMHO.