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

[LifeIsAMystery]

True, but what do you suppose happened, with the first twin, and then the second? The jury will surely want to know. Was she under the influence of drugs or something? The whole thing makes little sense to me. It’s not like she was some child care worker who snapped from too much daily stress. She was visiting friends in the academic community. It just isn’t adding up for me….

I have been wondering if perhaps this is a stalker type case and the idea to try to harm the family and traumatize one of the parents might have been the motive for the visit. Trauma was a research focus no?

Not sure we will ever know, so much comes down to inner thoughts and emotional state. Perhaps some sort of electronic forensics could shed light on the genesis of plans for the visit. Am curious if she attended their wedding the prior year, were they social friends even at that level? JMOOO.

I think the surviving baby may have emotional trauma from loss of twin and from injuries at a non-verbal age. There may even be lasting physical/sexual/emotional harm that continues from the injury itself. JMOOO. All so tragic.

I suspect she will take a plea but given the nature of the injuries to 1st baby and rage to both, have to wonder if she experienced physical and sexual abuse as a child herself. Not in any way an excuse but perhaps recreating trauma unconsciously. The violence toward both babies is so extreme and sad, directed toward genitals and the head. So vulnerable. JMOO.

Calculated and controlled harm to first, assuming she did it, and rage toward the second. For someone who values intellect, even if the 2nd baby had not died, he could have been grievously and permanently brain injured. Not to play psychologist but wonder about her relationship with her very intellectual surgeon father? MOOO.

 

[SMK777]

I have been wondering if perhaps this is a stalker type case and the idea to try to harm the family and traumatize one of the parents might have been the motive for the visit. Trauma was a research focus no?

Not sure we will ever know, so much comes down to inner thoughts and emotional state. Perhaps some sort of electronic forensics could shed light on the genesis of plans for the visit. Am curious if she attended their wedding the prior year, were they social friends even at that level? JMOOO.

I think the surviving baby may have emotional trauma from loss of twin and from injuries at a non-verbal age. There may even be lasting physical/sexual/emotional harm that continues from the injury itself. JMOOO. All so tragic.

I suspect she will take a plea but given the nature of the injuries to 1st baby and rage to both, have to wonder if she experienced physical and sexual abuse as a child herself. Not in any way an excuse but perhaps recreating trauma unconsciously. The violence toward both babies is so extreme and sad, directed toward genitals and the head. So vulnerable. JMOO.

Calculated and controlled harm to first, assuming she did it, and rage toward the second. For someone who values intellect, even if the 2nd baby had not died, he could have been grievously and permanently brain injured. Not to play psychologist but wonder about her relationship with her very intellectual surgeon father? MOOO.

Very important observations, thanks!

ETA: In terms of a “stalker” case, do you mean premeditated babysitting and harm?

 

[steeltowngirl]

This is what I had thought in relation to this situation: You’re nearly 30 years old, you’re a PhD student and the daughter of a wealthy specialist; you’re visiting another city to meet some online friends who have praised your work; you offer to babysit their 6 week old twins so that they can enjoy their one year wedding anniversary and Father’s Day.

Surely you can hold it together for one evening, even if the infants are crying and won’t settle down. Unless she was on drugs or extremely unstable, there seems no reason why anything had to go so terribly wrong.

I’m confused about why she was babysitting.
Was it to allow the parents an evening out? Or, was it so they could take the baby with the genital injuries to the hospital?
Did NV volunteer to babysit, or was she asked?

Virzi was staying in a nearby Airbnb on South Graham Street when asked to care for the baby, the complaint said.

Virzi told police she started taking care of Leon at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the complaint said. He was functioning normally — he had eaten and soiled two diapers, and had been burped.

California woman charged with homicide in Shadyside baby's death

A California woman staying in a Shadyside Airbnb was charged with homicide Sunday in connection with the death of a 6½-week-old Pittsburgh boy. Nicole Virzi, 29, of San Diego, said the boy, identified as Leon Katz, fell from a bouncer seat Saturday night while she was watching him in a

triblive.com

 

[SMK777]

I’m confused about why she was babysitting.
Was it to allow the parents an evening out? Or, was it so they could take the baby with the genital injuries to the hospital?
Did NV volunteer to babysit, or was she asked?

Virzi was staying in a nearby Airbnb on South Graham Street when asked to care for the baby, the complaint said.

Virzi told police she started taking care of Leon at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the complaint said. He was functioning normally — he had eaten and soiled two diapers, and had been burped.

California woman charged with homicide in Shadyside baby's death

A California woman staying in a Shadyside Airbnb was charged with homicide Sunday in connection with the death of a 6½-week-old Pittsburgh boy. Nicole Virzi, 29, of San Diego, said the boy, identified as Leon Katz, fell from a bouncer seat Saturday night while she was watching him in a

triblive.com

I’ve lost track of the articles I’ve read, but seem to recall something about their going out for their anniversary and Father’s Day. But yes, this one states that she was asked by them. It’s a shame she didn’t make an excuse not to.

The genital injuries were pointed out to the parents by NV: I had assumed that meant she was babysitting him. But maybe not.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Very important observations, thanks!

ETA: In terms of a “stalker” case, do you mean premeditated babysitting and harm?

I mean anything is possible?

What was the purported reason given for her being in PA at all? If it was to visit the family/meet the babies, had she attended their wedding? Or was their "relationship" an online one based on being in same field?

Would be curious re: her search history re: the parents.

Also curious, if she had experienced emotional/physical/sexual abuse as a child, isn't PA where she grew up? So perhaps another "reenacting" detail? I mean she studies and teaches spin classes in CA, to end up on the East Coast with this sequence of events, the first enabling the time window for the second, seems too big for mere coincidence. I assume she will take a plea. Forensic psychiatrists could have a field day with this suspect, IMHOO.

 

[SMK777]

I mean anything is possible?

What was the purported reason given for her being in PA at all? If it was to visit the family/meet the babies, had she attended their wedding? Or was their "relationship" an online one based on being in same field?

Would be curious re: her search history re: the parents.

Also curious, if she had experienced emotional/physical/sexual abuse as a child, isn't PA where she grew up? So perhaps another "reenacting" detail? I mean she studies and teaches spin classes in CA, to end up on the East Coast with this sequence of events, the first enabling the time window for the second, seems too big for mere coincidence. I assume she will take a plea. Forensic psychiatrists could have a field day with this suspect, IMHOO.

You raise excellent questions, and maybe a forensic psychologist can get to the bottom of some of these.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Some people are very triggered by loud or unpleasant noises and sounds. It doesn't matter if the noise lasts a few seconds or an hour.

Do you believe being triggered by loud and unpleasant sounds prevents an adult from leaving the area without committing violence? Let's say she was very triggered by one or both babies crying. Then what?

 

[SMK777]

Do you believe being triggered by loud and unpleasant sounds prevents an adult from leaving the area without committing violence? Let's say she was very triggered by one or both babies crying. Then what?

I had the same question. Considering her relatively privileged position in life, and that she was visiting academic associates in a city away from home, could she not leave the room, or call the parents and asked for a suggestion, such as white noise to lull the babies to sleep, etc., or putting on some soft music for them, or even shutting the door and seeing if they might cry themselves to sleep.

I would expect a person of her station in life to have some command over the situation. Certainly more so than say, a young child care worker in an unprivileged position in life, overworked and stressed who may snap under pressure.

I’m sorry to say it, but I do think her relative privilege should have made a difference. My opinion only.

 

[Cedars]

Do you believe being triggered by loud and unpleasant sounds prevents an adult from leaving the area without committing violence? Let's say she was very triggered by one or both babies crying. Then what?

I just can't imagine it - it's a baby, a real live baby! It's got nothing to do with rational mind, in fact our feelings about babies are deeply irrational. Did she also clobber her friend's puppies for barking too much, strangle a kitten for using it's claws on her leg?

JMO

 

[steeltowngirl]

I had the same question. Considering her relatively privileged position in life, and that she was visiting academic associates in a city away from home, could she not leave the room, or call the parents and asked for a suggestion, such as white noise to lull the babies to sleep, etc., or putting on some soft music for them, or even shutting the door and seeing if they might cry themselves to sleep.

I would expect a person of her station in life to have some command over the situation. Certainly more so than say, a young child care worker in an unprivileged position in life, overworked and stressed who may snap under pressure.

I’m sorry to say it, but I do think her relative privilege should have made a difference. My opinion only.

I’m thinking the opposite. Going with the theory that NV may have been accustomed to a more privileged life, that signals to me a mostly unchaotic lifestyle. Housekeepers, nannies, high-quality infant care items, and orderly surroundings.

Babies (especially twins) are anything but unchaotic. NV may have been completely out of her usual element - a world where books and quiet study is the norm. A world not usually interrupted with hungry babies, blowouts in diapers, or relentless crying.

I’m curious to know if the babies were being breastfed. Possible one or both was hungry and not accepting a bottle well.

All of the above is purely speculation by me.

 

[SMK777]

I’m thinking the opposite. Going with the theory that NV may have been accustomed to a more privileged life, that signals to me a mostly unchaotic lifestyle. Housekeepers, nannies, high-quality infant care items, and orderly surroundings.

Babies (especially twins) are anything but unchaotic. NV may have been completely out of her usual element - a world where books and quiet study is the norm. A world not usually interrupted with hungry babies, blowouts in diapers, or relentless crying.

I’m curious to know if the babies were being breastfed. Possible one or both was hungry and not accepting a bottle well.

All of the above is purely speculation by me.

Okay, so that’s a different slant on it, to be taken into account. Thanks!

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I know people want to understand "why" the alleged crimes may have happened, but if both babies were attacked, frustration/overwhelm/triggering don't explain the separate and specific injuries they had.

As some have already said, it wasn't a single "lashing out." It was two separate babies with unusual injuries, including painful genital injuries.

It goes beyond what's usually seen with abuse by a frustrated babysitter...

 

[SMK777]

I know people want to understand "why" the alleged crimes may have happened, but if both babies were attacked, frustration/overwhelm/triggering don't explain the separate and specific injuries they had.

As some have already said, it wasn't a single "lashing out." It was two separate babies with unusual injuries, including painful genital injuries.

It goes beyond what's usually seen with abuse by a frustrated babysitter...

That’s true. The first baby having the genital injuries, pointed out to the parents by NV herself, and their rush to the ER at Children’s Hospital definitely complicates the entire narrative. In her place I would have been on my very best behavior, knowing that medical professionals were looking at the first twin. This is an extremely puzzling case for me.

 

[SMK777]

Just found this information which does shed a bit more light on NV’s connection with the infant twins’ parents:
[UNDERLINING MINE]

‘My client denies any intentional actions'​

Virzi's lawyer, David Schrager, told USA TODAY his client is friends with the twin's parents, and before her arrest traveled from California to visit them. At the time of the incident police wrote in the complaint, Virzi had been staying in a nearby short-term rental.

"There are allegations my client was involved in harming the child in some way. My client denies any intentional actions," Schrager said Tuesday. "Obviously, these are very shocking and disturbing allegations. My client has no criminal history. She is a Ph.D. student and was a longtime friend of the family. They've know each other for at least five years."

Woman accused of killing friend's newborn, abusing child's twin in Pittsburgh: Police

Pittsburgh police arrested Nicole Virzi the same day the reported crimes took place at a Pittsburgh-area home where the parents and toddlers lived.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Ray_of_hope]

I see so many pointing out that NV's father is a prominent cardiologist in NY. What does that have to do with anything? That does not mean that she had a perfect upbringing or never suffered abuse or mental illness. I'm sure a lot of us have 'prominent' people within our families. They can be as normal as possible or quite the opposite.
I majored in psychology undergrad. I remember one professor telling us that some study psychology to help themselves, some really want to help people and others want to control people. It was derived from his personal feelings and observations over many years.
NV was raised in a possibly wealthy home and she is Caucasian. The fact that her father was referred to as prominent and she studies psychology at the PhD level seems to have clouded the issue as well, IMHO.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

I've worked in many different departments in hospital but the last area I worked was LDRP. I've seen some crazy things and we've had babies fall with rooming in and exhausted parents. Some parents have fallen asleep while feeding and infant's have slipped off of beds and even rolled down dad's legs onto the floor. It's not a common occurrence but it happens. Not one infant during my ten years in LDRP has had a fractured skull, thank God. I understand that's limited and anecdotal but, I've seen some crazy things and thankfully the infants have all been fine. For the most part, infants are very elastic. Some new moms report forgetting they need extra room carrying the baby and we've had heads bump doorways only to be ok. Mind you, the bumps have been while parent is walking so not a tremendous bump, but a bump none the less. A severe fracture with multiple brain bleeds, wow! That poor little guy.

 

[SMK777]

I see so many pointing out that NV's father is a prominent cardiologist in NY. What does that have to do with anything? That does not mean that she had a perfect upbringing or never suffered abuse or mental illness. I'm sure a lot of us have 'prominent' people within our families. They can be as normal as possible or quite the opposite.
I majored in psychology undergrad. I remember one professor telling us that some study psychology to help themselves, some really want to help people and others want to control people. It was derived from his personal feelings and observations over many years.
NV was raised in a possibly wealthy home and she is Caucasian. The fact that her father was referred to as prominent and she studies psychology at the PhD level seems to have clouded the issue as well, IMHO.

I see your points, definitely.
Thanks for clarifying.

 

[SMK777]

I've worked in many different departments in hospital but the last area I worked was LDRP. I've seen some crazy things and we've had babies fall with rooming in and exhausted parents. Some parents have fallen asleep while feeding and infant's have slipped off of beds and even rolled down dad's legs onto the floor. It's not a common occurrence but it happens. Not one infant during my ten years in LDRP has had a fractured skull, thank God. I understand that's limited and anecdotal but, I've seen some crazy things and thankfully the infants have all been fine. For the most part, infants are very elastic. Some new moms report forgetting they need extra room carrying the baby and we've had heads bump doorways only to be ok. Mind you, the bumps have been while parent is walking so not a tremendous bump, but a bump none the less. A severe fracture with multiple brain bleeds, wow! That poor little guy.

Yes, and this is I’m sure why the children’s hospital physician was so adamant in his statement to police that the injuries were not accidental or natural in origin.

 

[charminglane]

What if she wanted to commit acts of violence on boys on purpose?
Her studies were women centric.

 

[Curious Me]

I’m confused about why she was babysitting.
Was it to allow the parents an evening out? Or, was it so they could take the baby with the genital injuries to the hospital? Did NV volunteer to babysit, or was she asked?... snipped to reply...

Glad you posted that news article again. It is a different account of what she was doing caring (or not caring) for Leon. She gave account of doing proper things like feeding him already, changing two diapers, burping. Sounds like things a competent sitter would do. Leon was in her care from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., about five hrs., I figured.

Two things bother me about this account, and I'm not sure I believe any accounts yet--

(1) her falling asleep while Leon was still in his bouncer seat. If she was going to nap I'd think she put Leon someplace safer like in his crib. He must've been fussing to have put him in the bouncer seat, and yet she falls asleep.

(2) She wakes up, probably to him crying, but then she leaves him alone in another room, apparently not properly buckled in. In the mere minutes she's out of the room, he mysteriously moves around so much he falls and gets this large bump on his head.

Are these just lies to cover up abusing that precious baby? Or is she just a rather flakey, incompetent babysitter and can prove via defense experts that the injuries were due accidental injuries? ​

California woman charged with homicide in Shadyside baby's death

A California woman staying in a Shadyside Airbnb was charged with homicide Sunday in connection with the death of a 6½-week-old Pittsburgh boy. Nicole Virzi, 29, of San Diego, said the boy, identified as Leon Katz, fell from a bouncer seat Saturday night while she was watching him in a

triblive.com

Virzi told police she started taking care of Leon at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the complaint said. He was functioning normally — he had eaten and soiled two diapers, and had been burped.

Virzi told police she fell asleep “for a period of time while Leon was in the bouncer seat,” the complaint said. When she woke up, she went to the kitchen to get a bottle for Leon, and heard the baby screaming.​

She said she found Leon lying on the floor and picked him up, the complaint said. She saw “a large bump to the left side of Leon’s head.”

Pittsburgh police charged Virzi on Sunday with criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.