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

[Arkay]

There’s a pretty famous case of a child who died from apparent antifreeze poisoning. He had been vomiting and had trouble breathing, and doctors found high levels of ethylene glycol in his blood. A couple of years later, his brother started having the same symptoms. Two brothers, sick in the same way, it would seem likely that they were both poisoned with antifreeze.

But, at the time the younger brother was showing symptoms, his mother was in prison for the murder of the older brother. It was determined that Patricia Stallings’s sons weren’t sick because they were abused in the same way, they were sick because they had the same disease.

Until more facts come out, I’m open to the idea that there could be some unknown other factor that the twins have in common, or even that their injuries were unrelated.

I understand your point completely, but as you cited, these two brothers had the SAME symptoms, and it emerged that they had the SAME disease.

In the Katz case, from what we know at this time, these twins had DIFFERENT injuries. One had injuries to his genital region and one had a fractured skull and died.

IMO this speaks of separate assaults on each twin.

 

[TristanP]

There’s a pretty famous case of a child who died from apparent antifreeze poisoning. He had been vomiting and had trouble breathing, and doctors found high levels of ethylene glycol in his blood. A couple of years later, his brother started having the same symptoms. Two brothers, sick in the same way, it would seem likely that they were both poisoned with antifreeze.

But, at the time the younger brother was showing symptoms, his mother was in prison for the murder of the older brother. It was determined that Patricia Stallings’s sons weren’t sick because they were abused in the same way, they were sick because they had the same disease.

Until more facts come out, I’m open to the idea that there could be some unknown other factor that the twins have in common, or even that their injuries were unrelated.

You may have missed one fact already known, which is that NV said the deceased twin “fell out” of his bouncer seat and that’s what caused his injuries.

It’s safe to assume that the baby with injured genitals had no injury when the parents left, because as soon as they knew they took him to the hospital. (I’m thrown by this, because I would not have left the other baby with her when I just came home to discover my baby’s genitals were injured.)

This is clearly not a statistically unlikely, bizarre disease.

 

[Mack the Knife]

You may have missed one fact already known, which is that NV said the deceased twin “fell out” of his bouncer seat and that’s what caused his injuries.

It’s safe to assume that the baby with injured genitals had no injury when the parents left, because as soon as they knew they took him to the hospital. (I’m thrown by this, because I would not have left the other baby with her when I just came home to discover my baby’s genitals were injured.)

This is clearly not a statistically unlikely, bizarre disease.

I’ve seen that, but didn’t include it in my list of facts because I take it as more of a narrative than something that everyone agrees happened.

I’m not sure what you mean about there being no injury when the parents left because they took him to the hospital. Left from where? I don’t think we know enough about the injury or the circumstances to know that only NV could have caused it and that the injury must have been caused very recently.

IMO, with the information available to the public, it remains possible that AK had an injury prior to NV pointing it out and the parents taking him to the hospital, and that the injury was not caused by NV.

 

[SMK777]

It’s safe to assume that the baby with injured genitals had no injury when the parents left, because as soon as they knew they took him to the hospital. (I’m thrown by this, because I would not have left the other baby with her when I just came home to discover my baby’s genitals were injured.)

SBM
Yes, this is very perplexing. Unless they initially attributed the injury to something natural, and were just in a desperate rush to get him help.

 

[SMK777]

I’m not sure what you mean about there being no injury when the parents left because they took him to the hospital. Left from where? I don’t think we know enough about the injury or the circumstances to know that only NV could have caused it and that the injury must have been caused very recently.

Yes, these are the details and questions that investigators and the defense absolutely must make clear.

 

[Knitty]

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[sunflowermomma]

Has there been any more facts given regarding the baby who is still with us but had g*****l injuries? I can't even bring myself to type it. How did those happen under Virzi's watch?

 

[SMK777]

Has there been any more facts given regarding the baby who is still with us but had g*****l injuries? I can't even bring myself to type it. How did those happen under Virzi's watch?

I have been unable to find any further information. It’s very sad, and obviously physicians and law enforcement believe the injuries to be inflicted by NV as abuse. What counter information may emerge remains to be seen.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Yes, these are the details and questions that investigators and the defense absolutely must make clear.

That's the issue. We don't have enough info. We only have bare facts.

 

[SMK777]

That's the issue. We don't have enough info. We only have bare facts.

And it would seem that none of these will be forthcoming until she goes to trial. Would such facts be stated if she takes a plea deal, I wonder?

 

[Ray_of_hope]

And it would seem that none of these will be forthcoming until she goes to trial. Would such facts be stated if she takes a plea deal, I wonder?

Good question. From the press, her attorney sounds very aggressive regarding the not guilty plea with the standard, 'we look forward to our day in court to prove our client not guilty' type statement. I know we're all waiting for more info. It's so hard waiting. This case is so unusual...and heartbreaking.

 

[Curious Me]

And it would seem that none of these will be forthcoming until she goes to trial. Would such facts be stated if she takes a plea deal, I wonder?

Just asking. I don't know how to see the idea of her being offered a plea deal, nor the answers to my own questions.

Why would they offer her a plea deal? Several people here have mentioned "if she takes a plea deal". The state has to offer one though, and other than to save court costs, what would the state get from offering her a plea deal?

Sometimes they ask the victim's family if they would agree to the state offering one. What if the twin's parents (and that large group of family, friends, & community that showed up for the hearing) express adamantly not wanting her to get a plea deal?

Leon should not be dead, and he is not going to be forgotten no matter how many years go by. Losing a child or a twin sibling is not ever forgotten really. If asked, the parents may not go along with her getting a plea deal. They trusted her with their infants, and she is alleged to have purposely abused both babies, in essence alleged murder of one.

There were one twin's mysterious genital injuries that sent the parents rushing to the hospital. And, coincidentally, then... the other twin ends up dead. If it can be proven that NV intentionally struck that precious baby in the head, ... then I don't think a plea deal or even a bench trial is sufficient Justice. Wondering what the thoughts are on this.

Well, at this point, her attorney made it sound like she'd enter a not guilty plea and this would go to trial. I wonder how this is going to go. ALL MOO
​

 

[SMK777]

Just asking. I don't know how to see the idea of her being offered a plea deal, nor the answers to my own questions.

Why would they offer her a plea deal? Several people here have mentioned "if she takes a plea deal". The state has to offer one though, and other than to save court costs, what would the state get from offering her a plea deal?

Sometimes they ask the victim's family if they would agree to the state offering one. What if the twin's parents (and that large group of family, friends, & community that showed up for the hearing) express adamantly not wanting her to get a plea deal?

Leon should not be dead, and he is not going to be forgotten no matter how many years go by. Losing a child or a twin sibling is not ever forgotten really. If asked, the parents may not go along with her getting a plea deal. They trusted her with their infants, and she is alleged to have purposely abused both babies, in essence alleged murder of one.

There were one twin's mysterious genital injuries that sent the parents rushing to the hospital. And, coincidentally, then... the other twin ends up dead. If it can be proven that NV intentionally struck that precious baby in the head, ... then I don't think a plea deal or even a bench trial is sufficient Justice. Wondering what the thoughts are on this.

Well, at this point, her attorney made it sound like she'd enter a not guilty plea and this would go to trial. I wonder how this is going to go. ALL MOO
​

You’re right. I guess I’m so used to the idea of plea deals — to save costs and to ensure some type of conviction— that I forgot that they can be withheld or denied. See image below from articles about the effects of excessive plea bargaining in the U.S. court system:

 

[steeltowngirl]

I mentioned plea deal, as I see little hope of any defense getting a jury to buy that this was an accident. With a plea deal, we will likely hear more detail, but terms of the plea may keep some of it confidential.

Perhaps they will try to say someone else caused the injuries that killed this child. If defense proceeds to trial with an accident theory, a bench trial might be a better choice, where the judge will be less emotional and stick to matters of law. A jury will hear the details of Leon’s injuries and fatality and the amount of force it would take to cause multiple skull fractures. And there may be more we have not yet heard. They will be overwhelmed with emotion and compassion for the parents.

jmo