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

[Curious Me]

All I can say, speaking for myself only, is those genital injuries would have to be blatant as intentional abusive injuries for me to call the police and not ask the parents about them first. Of note, the parents did rush to the hospital with the injured twin. (So it wasn't something they did and were trying to hide, most likely, but then again, ya never know early in a case.)

I think it's mandatory protocol that the hospital has to notify the police or CPS if the injuries looked intentional and suspicious. I'm just having a hard time imagining the extent of the injuries. Scratches?

MOO here, infants, gosh, I can't imagine leaving an out of town guest with my infants. Her calling the police on the parents would've been outrageous, I'd think, not knowing how the injuries occurred, not seeing any abuse happening. An out of town guest calling the police seems a bit much. Some diaper rashes can look like negligent parenting.

So many things can pop up with kids, in general. The genital injuries must've looked so bad that the parents felt it necessary to rush to the hospital, so they must've been more than mild scratches. The hospital would've brought in the police if they thought the injuries were abuse. Hope my post makes sense. All MOO

​

 

[Gemmie]

All I can say, speaking for myself only, is those genital injuries would have to be blatant as intentional abusive injuries for me to call the police and not ask the parents about them first. Of note, the parents did rush to the hospital with the injured twin. (So it wasn't something they did and were trying to hide, most likely, but then again, ya never know early in a case.)

I think it's mandatory protocol that the hospital has to notify the police or CPS if the injuries looked intentional and suspicious. I'm just having a hard time imagining the extent of the injuries. Scratches?

MOO here, infants, gosh, I can't imagine leaving an out of town guest with my infants. Her calling the police on the parents would've been outrageous, I'd think, not knowing how the injuries occurred, not seeing any abuse happening. An out of town guest calling the police seems a bit much. Some diaper rashes can look like negligent parenting.

So many things can pop up with kids, in general. The genital injuries must've looked so bad that the parents felt it necessary to rush to the hospital, so they must've been more than mild scratches. The hospital would've brought in the police if they thought the injuries were abuse. Hope my post makes sense. All MOO

​

Yes, it was more than mild scratches. I wouldn't think they'd rush an infant to the hospital if only mild.

The baby's twin, whose name was not immediately available, was examined and found to have scratches, bruises, swelling and redness, according to court documents.

Woman Charged With Killing Pittsburgh Infant, Injuring His Twin

A woman has been charged with homicide following the death of a six-week-old baby in Pittsburgh.

patch.com

I can't even image what happened to cause those sorts of injuries to a 6 week old baby.

 

[SMK777]

Her calling the police on the parents would've been outrageous, I'd think, not knowing how the injuries occurred, not seeing any abuse happening

That’s my thinking, too. She’d known them online in the academic community, and was now visiting them in Pittsburgh and babysitting. Calling the police on them for perhaps some swelling would be an extreme thing to do.

 

[SMK777]

The baby's twin, whose name was not immediately available, was examined and found to have scratches, bruises, swelling and redness, according to court documents.

Hmmm, that does sound more than mild….

 

[Curious Me]

JMO, some people are ready to hang NV right now and we really know hardly any true facts. You have to admit, the combined reports of both twins being injured with NV around casts all the suspicion and blame on her right off. Combining both twins injuries pushes it over the top and Leon's death can't be seen as one unfortunate accidental event.

Leave the one twin's genital injuries out of it, and just for a minute consider only what happened to Leon. He was left in NV's care while the parents rushed to the hospital with the other twin.

NV was caring for Leon, and we'll assume, inexperienced, and not used to providing the constant care an infant requires. She went to get a bottle for him. He wasn't secured in that bounce chair, as I think I understand it, and the fatal accident occurred. Negligence of an inexperienced childcare provider.

Her Defense attorney will probably want to get the Jurors to see it as an isolated incident, not combined with the other twin's injuries. Or her attorney will have to challenge that NV had nothing to do with the one twin's genital injuries, and Leon's death was an accident. ​

 

[SMK777]

NV was caring for Leon, and we'll assume, inexperienced, and not used to providing the constant care an infant requires. She went to get a bottle for him. He wasn't secured in that bounce chair, as I think I understand it, and the fatal accident occurred. Negligence of an inexperienced childcare provider.

Her Defense attorney will probably want to get the Jurors to see it as an isolated incident, not combined with the other twin's injuries. Or her attorney will have to challenge that NV had nothing to do with the one twin's genital injuries, and Leon's death was an accident.

Snipped for focus.
True, the one twin’s may be viewed as separate from the other twin’s injury. But in the accidental scenario, how can the defense negate the Children’s Hospital physician who said that both twins’ injuries were the product of child abuse, and not accidental or natural? By getting counter arguments from experts?

 

[Curious Me]

snipped to reply...By getting counter arguments from experts?

Definitely. At trial we will hear hours of testimony about an infant's soft spots, also known as a fontanelle. There's more than one, but anterior soft spot is that little area near the front of your newborn’s head where the bones aren’t yet touching.

We will probably see diagrams on how an infant might fall to create those type injuries. Also they may show a "CAR", a computer-generated animation, of how the baby bounced out of that seat, that depicts an event material to a civil or criminal case. MOO, it isn't cut and dry just because one doctor said it was intentional. ​

What Is the Baby’s Soft Spot?

A baby’s soft spot is an underdeveloped space on the skull that appears after birth. Learn about what causes it, what to expect, and more.

www.webmd.com

 

[SMK777]

MOO, it isn't cut and dry just because one doctor said it was intentional.

SBM
Yes, I guess there’s always a margin for competing theories, and the jury will have to decide on which to believe, or at least if there is room for reasonable doubt.

 

[windrower]

A forensic physician might be able to tell if the baby's genital injuries were super fresh and had to have been caused while the parents were out, and NV was alone with the child. Bruises evolve, yes? So do clots?
We had testimony like this regarding Tammy Daybell's death.

Nothing makes sense here.

Parents come home expecting the infants to be safe and sound, one has injuries concerning enough for a trip to the ER, and yet, apparently, no suspicions about the “friend” because they don’t take the other baby with them.

What did NV say to them about the injuries, about the babysitting, about baby Leon when they came home from the ER? Someone is really off here, and I don’t think it is the parents. They are living a nightmare.

 

[SMK777]

Nothing makes sense here.

Parents come home expecting the infants to be safe and sound, one has injuries concerning enough for a trip to the ER, and yet, apparently, no suspicions about the “friend” because they don’t take the other baby with them.

What did NV say to them about the injuries, about the babysitting, about baby Leon when they came home from the ER? Someone is really off here, and I don’t think it is the parents. They are living a nightmare.

Yes, I think it’s obvious that they didn’t suspect her. And since they didn’t, it makes sense not to bring the second baby along, because a trip to the ER would be stressful enough for the parents, and do no good for the unnjured twin.

Yes, I’m not clear about how they found out about the second baby. Did she call 911 herself, while they were still away at the ER?

 

[Artis]

Social relationships and health: What do we know and where do we go from here?

T Rutledge, N Virzi, Polish Heart Journal (Kardiologia Polska), 2023

scholar.google.com

This article is about physical activity and momentary pain??!!!!

Sadist b****. I wonder how many animals she tortured in her "research".

 

[abyquinn]

Yes, I think it’s obvious that they didn’t suspect her. And since they didn’t, it makes sense not to bring the second baby along, because a trip to the ER would be stressful enough for the parents, and do no good for the unnjured twin.

Yes, I’m not clear about how they found out about the second baby. Did she call 911 herself, while they were still away at the ER?

Yes, NV called 911 around 1130 pm. I’m assuming they met her or met up with their baby at the ER.

 

[Artis]

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

It is my personal observation, so MOO, that a lot of mentally screwed up people are attracted to the field of psychology and mental health. Further, both psychology and medicine provide access to experimenting on innocent and helpless animals.

 

[Artis]

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?​

They obviously believed they knew her well and trusted her to babysit. You could also ask why people leave their precious little ones in daycare with people they know nothing about. I wouldn't.

 

[Gemmie]

It is my personal observation, so MOO, that a lot of mentally screwed up people are attracted to the field of psychology and mental health. Further, both psychology and medicine provide access to experimenting on innocent and helpless animals.

I hear ya, but from my observation... a lot of mentally screwed up people are in every field. Not dismissing what you said, more that I feel it's spread across a lot of fields. Obvs... JMO.

 

[Artis]

I hear ya, but from my observation... a lot of mentally screwed up people are in every field. Not dismissing what you said, more that I feel it's spread across a lot of fields. Obvs... JMO.

I agree "they" (dangerous and deranged people) are everywhere but some jobs/professions/fields often provide access to the vulnerable. A good example is pervs who gravitate to positions where they have access to children. There are a lot of sadistic people in research fields with access to animals. Sadly, our society is not well and accepts it as normal and "necessary" (it's not). Anyway, what I mentioned I'd noticed about people with "issues" being attracted to the field of psychology is that they are often the ones who need analyzing.

 

[Gemmie]

I agree "they" (dangerous and deranged people) are everywhere but some jobs/professions/fields often provide access to the vulnerable. A good example is pervs who gravitate to positions where they have access to children. There are a lot of sadistic people in research fields with access to animals. Sadly, our society is not well and accepts it as normal and "necessary" (it's not). Anyway, what I mentioned I'd noticed about people with "issues" being attracted to the field of psychology is that they are often the ones who need analyzing.

Extremely good points. I had to react with Sad because, well, it's sad.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Yes, I think it’s obvious that they didn’t suspect her. And since they didn’t, it makes sense not to bring the second baby along, because a trip to the ER would be stressful enough for the parents, and do no good for the unnjured twin.

Yes, I’m not clear about how they found out about the second baby. Did she call 911 herself, while they were still away at the ER?

It's my understanding she did call 911 per a link above.

She may also have called the parents. MOOO.