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

[NCWatcher]

I want to know more about this felonious history!

'The defendant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person. The victim was a child under 12 years of age.'

Further details of these previous convictions were not shared. A public records check for Virzi only showed up details of the charges she faces over Leon's killing.

Woman accused of murdering friends baby faces death penalty

Nicole Virzi, 29, has been accused of murdering six-and-a-half-week old Leon Katz and injuring his twin brother while she babysat that them at the family's Pittsburgh home.

www.dailymail.co.uk

That's because it's likely she has no history. But as discussed earlier on the thread, if she is convicted in this case she will then have a history of use of violence towards children under 12 and that will justify the DP. Sounds very legally iffy to me but I'm not an attorney.
MOO

 

[fred&edna]

That's because it's likely she has no history. But as discussed earlier on the thread, if she is convicted in this case she will then have a history of use of violence towards children under 12 and that will justify the DP. Sounds very legally iffy to me but I'm not an attorney.
MOO

Asking for the DP asserting as fact that she has prior convictions definitely seems "iffy". I'm not a lawyer, either, so maybe that's why it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Gemmie]

I want to know more about this felonious history! Was she considered a juvenile when other incidents occurred? Is that why they haven't been found?

'The defendant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person. The victim was a child under 12 years of age.'

Further details of these previous convictions were not shared. A public records check for Virzi only showed up details of the charges she faces over Leon's killing.

Woman accused of murdering friends baby faces death penalty

Nicole Virzi, 29, has been accused of murdering six-and-a-half-week old Leon Katz and injuring his twin brother while she babysat that them at the family's Pittsburgh home.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The District Attorney’s office provided four reasons for seeking the death penalty in their notice. Those reasons were:

1. The defendant committed the killing while in the perpetration of a felony.
2. The offense was committed by means of torture.
3. The defendant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person.
4. The victim was a child under 12 years of age.

Prosecutors seeking death penalty in case against woman accused of killing baby in Shadyside

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a woman who was charged in the killing of a 6-week-old baby.

www.wpxi.com

There isn't a felonious history IMO. It's my belief that some are taking what was said in the article out of context. I pointed all that out in this post:

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

The DA says "and the defendant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence." What is that all about? eta: Ohh, apparently this has something to do with thinking ahead towards the sentencing phase. It's all very confusing.

www.websleuths.com

The most important part of the article I quoted in my linked post above was:

Although Ms. Virzi does not have a criminal history, if a jury finds her guilty of the charges <snip>

The source to keep things together: DA seeks death penalty against San Diego woman accused in Shadyside newborn's death

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Just curious: why does the article show 2 different apartment buildings as the Katz residence? ***ETA: I see now, top is Airbnb, bottom is Katz apartment.
View attachment 527792View attachment 527793

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

It's my understanding that they live in an apartment in the house, not the entire house itself.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Asking for the DP asserting as fact that she has prior convictions definitely seems "iffy". I'm not a lawyer, either, so maybe that's why it doesn't make sense to me.

It was explained differently elsewhere that if convicted of charges against 1st baby would then have convictions re: sentencing for 2nd. HTH.

 

[fred&edna]

There isn't a felonious history IMO. It's my belief that some are taking what was said in the article out of context. I pointed all that out in this post:

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

The DA says "and the defendant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence." What is that all about? eta: Ohh, apparently this has something to do with thinking ahead towards the sentencing phase. It's all very confusing.

www.websleuths.com

The most important part of the article I quoted in my linked post above was:

Although Ms. Virzi does not have a criminal history, if a jury finds her guilty of the charges <snip>

The source to keep things together: DA seeks death penalty against San Diego woman accused in Shadyside newborn's death

Thank you! That's a thorough explanation and I understand but still tough to reconcile in my little brain... it's almost like asserting facts not in evidence yet. jmo I'll leave it alone since it's been addressed previously.

 

[Curious Me]

This details the injuries to the 1st baby, he had scratches to the head of his penis. This is all profoundly sick.

MOOO.

​

My humble advice would be to not believe any one news article to be the total confirmed truth or the complete story. MOO, the Probably Cause Affidavit (see above video) is even missing details, but that's the more official version. I also think it's wise to hold off on assigning her all kinds of evil intent until we learn more.

Sensationalized not only in the media, but I feel the Prosecution stating those four aggravating factors to seek a DP sentence is prematurely trying to influence this towards guilt before the facts have been proven.

AFAIK, she had a pristine record of no prior criminal actions and was a serious student with conscientious goals. She deserves her day in court, but has been given an evil characterization before the timeline and details have even been straighten out. What if this were you or I and this was some fluke series of events? We'd want to be given the benefit of doubt until we present our side in a courtroom. ​

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

Daily Mail article sensationalizing it. They have great photos and a video of the officer's tattooed arm, but really... does she look glamorous in her arrest? ​

 

[SMK777]

It's my understanding that they live in an apartment in the house, not the entire house itself.

Yes, correct.

 

[Curious Me]

MOO, this article and my prior post bears repeating. Imagine if the expert doctors and prosecution are wrong?

Lawyers to seek death penalty for student accused of killing friend’s baby ​

Mark Freeman, a Pennsylvania-based lawyer who has litigated 20 cases of shaken baby syndrome, said that the decision to charge Virzi did not surprise him, because health professionals and forensic experts were now so quick to see child abuse.

“The idea that an injury is likely the result of child abuse is deeply embedded — it’s been taught for so long,” he said. “And a lot of doctors are not familiar with the newer literature which shows how unlikely it is that such injuries are from deliberate acts.”

[...]

Freeman said he would immediately seek a second opinion on the verdict of a skull fracture, saying that he very often found the initial conclusion was wrong.
​

 

[NCWatcher]

I just looked back at a photo of my little person at about 8 weeks old and there is NO way the arm/body proportion is such where the infant can even reach their diaper area. There's just no way this could be "self inflicted", and clearly, doctors at the ER felt this way, too.

The arms are just flailing around since the torso takes up most of the volume. Their arms aren't long enough to do this.

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

 

[SMK777]

AFAIK, she had a pristine record of no prior criminal actions and was a serious student with conscientious goals. She deserves her day in court, but has been given an evil characterization before the timeline and details have even been straighten out. What if this were you or I and this was some fluke series of events? We'd want to be given the benefit of doubt until we present our side in a courtroom.

SBM
Yes, presumption of innocence is an important part of the legal process.

 

[SMK777]

MOO, this article and my prior post bears repeating. Imagine if the expert doctors and prosecution are wrong?

Lawyers to seek death penalty for student accused of killing friend’s baby ​

Mark Freeman, a Pennsylvania-based lawyer who has litigated 20 cases of shaken baby syndrome, said that the decision to charge Virzi did not surprise him, because health professionals and forensic experts were now so quick to see child abuse.

“The idea that an injury is likely the result of child abuse is deeply embedded — it’s been taught for so long,” he said. “And a lot of doctors are not familiar with the newer literature which shows how unlikely it is that such injuries are from deliberate acts.”

[...]

Freeman said he would immediately seek a second opinion on the verdict of a skull fracture, saying that he very often found the initial conclusion was wrong.
​

Absolutely. There is definitely that possibility to consider. We just don’t know yet. She may be a murderer—or a victim of a set of circumstances. Presumption of innocence must be borne in mind until all the experts have spoken.

 

[fred&edna]

Any reports as to when the twins had their most recent well-child check-up?

 

[katsrfun]

I’m more confused with the new information than I was earlier! I added my own assumptions and they were all wrong apparently! But at least with my thoughts thrown in some things made sense! It seems NV wasn’t alone with the babies prior to mom & dad taking Ari to the ER. I read somewhere that NV doesn’t have younger siblings and that is something that has bothered her for a long time. That still doesn’t explain why this seemingly normal Psych Student caused her friends a lifetime of pain & suffering.

How exactly did NV hurt Ari, causing swelling, bruising, redness, bleeding & scratches? At least the first 3 things would take longer than a diaper change… they would also cause the baby to cry out or scream. Did Ari scream when NV changed his diaper? I know some babies cry when they get a diaper changed, so if he normally cried that might not have alerted his dad to run in. I can see snapping a picture to show dad, asking “Hey, is this normal?” or “Is this new?”

I do understand now why they would run to the ER, blood in a diaper at 6 weeks could be caused by a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). The swelling & redness could also be signs of infection. So that question is answered for me.

Nothing else about this situation makes sense. How can anyone possibly hurt/abuse 2 brand new perfect little babies?

If the mother was home napping, the baby must have screamed. why did this not alert her? Most new mothers are hyperalert to any new "noises" being made by the baby. Why did she text dad a picture? If a child was in my care and there were new alarming injuries, I would immediately seek a parent, if one was in the home. How did she scratch his penis? I read here on WS (I'm not sure exactly where, so I will have to say MOO) that he had bite marks on his scrotum and penis. Is that true? How would she do that due to the size? moo Katt

 

[kthxbye84]

FWIW when I looked at her “research”, it seems to be creating databases of other folks’ actual research, analyzing the databases, and writing a brief summary of findings with about 8 other grad students. Total nothing burger in the “research” department: transparent attempt to publish “research” in order to get a job.
And look at the “findings” in those bogus “research” papers! You and I could think them up—with evidence—while having lunch with a screaming toddler and simultaneously entertaining a mother-in-law.

IMO doing database work is standard base-level for writing a dissertation. In any field. It’s a skill, not “research”. You have to have honed that skill before you embark on research with original (Ph.D.) findings and write up the research. In this field, it would be lab or clinical findings that you design and conduct. This is clinical psychology : it involves people, not book reports. Even at BA level, for an honors thesis, you would be required to demonstrate this skill AND devise an original study AND write up your experiment findings.

Bolded by me, as someone with a BA in psychology my capstone was an original study that the psychology board approved with appropriate findings written up and presented. (Off topic mine was how a "beautiful" woman can be perceived as more of a victim than a woman not as seen as "beautiful" I used before and after a makeover pictures of the same woman)

 

[NCWatcher]

If the mother was home napping, the baby must have screamed. why did this not alert her? Most new mothers are hyperalert to any new "noises" being made by the baby. Why did she text dad a picture? If a child was in my care and there were new alarming injuries, I would immediately seek a parent, if one was in the home. How did she scratch his penis? I read here on WS (I'm not sure exactly where, so I will have to say MOO) that he had bite marks on his scrotum and penis. Is that true? How would she do that due to the size? moo Katt

I've never read anywhere including the PCA that there were bite marks. And it's not been proven NV scratched his penis. I'm pretty sure if bite marks had been present the parents would never have been allowed to leave the hospital with the child. He was in their care after all, not NV's. (I'm not accusing the parents but it's not as though the doctors could determine who caused the injuries.)
MOO

 

[mickey2942]

People can be extremely mentally ill, and have no criminal record or history. But, this is deviant and pathological. I see more hatred here towards the mother or father. Intense jealousy?

 

[whowy]

Absolutely agree that since she was briefly visiting it’s not like the day in day out child caretaker who builds up resentment and explodes.
That is what is so baffling.
Her mug shot could be viewed as someone dissociating from shock.
There are just too many unknowns here, and I wish we had more information. I virtually don’t know what to make of any of it at this point.

In my own recent experience as a childless adult tasked with intermittently babysitting an infant I offer 2 observations which may or may not be pertinent to the particular events involving NV: 1) Some babies have quite long and very sharp fingernails which some parents are reluctant to trim for fear of injuring the fingertips;
2) Many of the "containment" contraptions currently available have complicated "strapping" devices which aren't always easy for a novice to properly engage & which don't always keep the baby's position "centered" even when properly engaged.

 

[AnyNameIWish]

RSBM.

I had also wondered if perhaps the babies had been circumcised. If so, when? Could there have been an infection or irritation that caused Ari discomfort to where he wiggled, scratched, or otherwise caused excessive irritation? Here's a page from the Seattle Children's Hospital which lists some possible problems after circumcision in infants. It includes this info:



Could the scab coming off have caused bleeding & irritation? I would assume the doctor at the ER would know this but public details have been so slim in this case that I'm just trying to think of possible alternatives.

Again, I'm not giving NV a pass. But, I think there are possibilities that have not been discounted or covered by definitive public information so I'm just musing. I guess the best hope at this point is that Leon's death was accidental & that Ari's injuries were misdiagnosed as "abuse" vs. a medical reason. Still, an infant is dead, his parents are grieving, and the sibling will be forever altered.

It's horrible. And perplexing.

All supposition on my part & MOO.

Re:circumcision - apologies if I missed a previous discussion.

IF the Katz family is of the Jewish faith... IF they chose to have a procedure performed (circumcision at the temple), I am reading they would do this when the infant is 8 days old? Is this correct?

In which case... by week 6, it should be "healed"? (I am not sure as I am not familiar with the procedure in infants.)

I will add that infants typically have appointment upon appointment with a pediatrician when they are that brand new.. I just counted 5 appointments for my kiddo by the time they were 8 weeks old....(born at 40weeks & otherwise healthy) of course, this will entirely depend on if the family believes in seeing pediatricians/vaccines etc. Also, twins could likely need more attention.

The family pediatrician will have records from within at least 3 weeks of this incident.

 

[Arkay]

Re:circumcision - apologies if I missed a previous discussion.

IF the Katz family is of the Jewish faith... IF they chose to have a procedure performed (circumcision at the temple), I am reading they would do this when the infant is 8 days old? Is this correct?

In which case... by week 6, it should be "healed"? (I am not sure as I am not familiar with the procedure in infants.)

I will add that infants typically have appointment upon appointment with a pediatrician when they are that brand new.. I just counted 5 appointments for my kiddo by the time they were 8 weeks old....(born at 40weeks & otherwise healthy) of course, this will entirely depend on if the family believes in seeing pediatricians/vaccines etc. Also, twins could likely need more attention.

The family pediatrician will have records from within at least 3 weeks of this incident.

Yes, I wrote about this early in the thread, when a fellow poster wondered if perhaps this was a wound from circumcision.

If in fact they are Jewish, which the surname suggests but not necessarily, they would have had a ceremony called a “Bris” on the 8th day. It’s a Biblical covenant typically done at the home by a rabbi or specially trained man called a “mohel,”and it’s a big deal. There’s a party and usually a very nervous mother.

To answer your main question, yes they would have healed by now. If something went wrong somehow and the circumcision had not healed yet, that would be problematic. Hopefully if that were the case, it would’ve been noticed by the parents and pediatrician.

Completely agree…newborns have appointment after appointment. Starting at one week after birth, at least in my daughter’s case and then my grandchildren as well.

IMO and experience.