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

[ChatteringBirds]

IMO her defense might be that someone else injured the first baby and the second baby died in a tragic accident. Sigh.

The team presenting the case will need to be giving their all, because I think it sounds like she's going to claim complete innocence. All JMO.

 

[abyquinn]

If she’s entering a plea of Guilty, why did her attorney bother to say all that stuff about the public not understanding what actually occurred, etc.?

And how does this fit with a guilty plea?
Virzi denies any wrongdoing, her attorney said.

Notice of Privacy

Is this the same as saying don’t try her in the court of public opinion? Too late. 6 week old babies don’t jump out of their bouncy seat if they are appropriately buckled in, and if they should wiggle out of the reclined seat they can’t possibly fracture their skull if the seat is placed on the floor. Not to mention poor little AK having an injury to his genitals that was serious enough to need Emergency Care. Newborn babies are tougher than they appear, they very seldom hurt themselves seriously. Almost all healthy infants who show up in the ER with serious injuries were harmed by another person, usually an adult who was responsible for their care and well being.

I’m guessing the State isn’t offering to reduce the charges due to the serious nature of the injuries to both babies. She may have been able to convince the Prosecutor that injuries to one baby was a tragic accident, but two babies who were healthy when the parents left them in her care, probably not. So now she is such a great friend she is going to plead guilty so her dear besties who trusted her with their precious twins, don’t have to hear what she did. I seldom believe one is as altruistic as they think they are, when they spare victims & witnesses from testifying, or listening to evidence. Honestly I believe the accused doesn’t want anyone to hear the facts of their crimes because they know how bad they will look to everyone.

Do they offer an Alfred Plea or No Contest in Pennsylvania?

MOO

 

[nhmemorymaker]

If she’s entering a plea of Guilty, why did her attorney bother to say all that stuff about the public not understanding what actually occurred, etc.?

And how does this fit with a guilty plea?
Virzi denies any wrongdoing, her attorney said.

Notice of Privacy

Agree....
Is the article misquoting???
I dunno

 

[abyquinn]

San Diego woman faces trial in killing of one Pittsburgh baby twin, assault on other

Nicole Virzi, a 29-year-old psychology doctoral student, was brought from jail to court for the proceeding and the courtroom was filled with family and friends of the parents of the twins, who were present as well.

www.wtae.com

According to this article she will plead Not Guilty…

 

[SMK777]

San Diego woman faces trial in killing of one Pittsburgh baby twin, assault on other

Nicole Virzi, a 29-year-old psychology doctoral student, was brought from jail to court for the proceeding and the courtroom was filled with family and friends of the parents of the twins, who were present as well.

www.wtae.com

According to this article she will plead Not Guilty…

Yes, so the report of a guilty plea was either a misprint or a reporting error.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

the lawyer refers to Virzi as "she' in the quote from the article. I assume 'they' refers to Virzi and her legal team since the lawyer is speaking on Virzi's behalf.

Thanks.

This case haunts me. The poor wee munchkins, so helpless in the face of such evil.

 

[Curious Me]

No way do I believe she'll plead guilty. I imagine her father will help with her legal expenses and she has an excellent criminal attorney. I'm not saying she is innocent, but I do think she'll fight this in court. Depends a lot on the evidence how it turns out. All MOO

https://profiles.superlawyers.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/lawyer/david-j-shrager/888acc2d-0fc3-4739-a025-5eec46c30cfd.html

From Super Lawyers-- "earned him several accolades, including being listed in The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100; holding an Avvo “Superb” rating; and being listed in the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys’ 10 Best. Mr. Shrager is a member of the Pennsylvania …"

PhD student accused of murdering close friend’s newborn baby, abusing tot’s twin is daughter of prominent NYC cardiologist

The friend said she did not know Virzi to be violent but said she said she “had some interpersonal issues. I would say she was a little rigid. She was nice. But very driven and motivated.&#82…

nypost.com

Virzi, a graduate of Pepperdine University who holds a graduate degree in clinical psychology from San Diego State, grew up in the tristate area, the daughter of Dr. Peter J. Virzi, a highly-respected cardiologist affiliated with Mt. Sinai Doctors in Manhattan.

“I have no words,” a friend and colleague of Virzi’s told The Post Saturday. “I am absolutely shocked. I had no idea.”

The friend said she did not know Virzi to be violent but said noted she “had some interpersonal issues. I would say she was a little rigid. She was nice. But very driven and motivated.”

[...]

Virzi’s attorney David Shrager told The Post Saturday his client was innocent, and planned to plead not guilty.​

 

[Kaley Smith]

The exact reason not a single person has been allowed to watch my baby. <modsnip>

I don't have children, but I totally get that. My sister didn't let anyone babysit her boys except their grandparents and me, people she had known all her life and seen react responsibly in all kinds of situations, including very stressful ones.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Denial of "intentional actions" seems key to her defense.

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

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Yes, so the report of a guilty plea was either a misprint or a reporting error.

Seems to be the case.

 

[steeltowngirl]

I will make sure she does, if she doesn't already...

Arraignment 8/23/24

https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/CpCourtSummary?docketNumber=CP-02-CR-0004996-2024&dnh=k7PeUMLBlCrMdPyyZdS%2F%2Fw%3D%3D

 

[steeltowngirl]

Probably Virzi's preferred pronoun.

Maybe the media was being inclusive, here are her pronouns, per her page.

NICOLE VIRZI, M.S.​

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Doctoral Student
2019-Present
SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
Behavioral Medicine
San Diego

This Page is Under Maintenance – Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Program

psychology.sdsu.edu

 

[steeltowngirl]

Virzi remains in the Allegheny County Jail. Her formal arraignment is set for Aug. 23. That's when the case will be assigned to a judge and she'll enter her plea.

Authorities charge that Virzi is responsible for the severe skull fracture that took the life of 6.5-week-old Leon Katz last month. Police wrote in the criminal complaint that a CT scan showed a fracture to the left side of the head, as well as several brain bleeds.

In the criminal complaint, police recounted that Virzi was babysitting infant Leon Katz inside the parents' apartment in the 6000 block of Walnut Street in Shadyside while the parents had taken the baby's twin brother to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh due to injuries to that twin's genital area pointed out by Virzi.

San Diego woman faces trial in killing of one Pittsburgh baby twin, assault on other

Nicole Virzi, a 29-year-old psychology doctoral student, was brought from jail to court for the proceeding and the courtroom was filled with family and friends of the parents of the twins, who were present as well.

www.wtae.com

 

[SMK777]

Virzi remains in the Allegheny County Jail. Her formal arraignment is set for Aug. 23. That's when the case will be assigned to a judge and she'll enter her plea.

Authorities charge that Virzi is responsible for the severe skull fracture that took the life of 6.5-week-old Leon Katz last month. Police wrote in the criminal complaint that a CT scan showed a fracture to the left side of the head, as well as several brain bleeds.

In the criminal complaint, police recounted that Virzi was babysitting infant Leon Katz inside the parents' apartment in the 6000 block of Walnut Street in Shadyside while the parents had taken the baby's twin brother to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh due to injuries to that twin's genital area pointed out by Virzi.

San Diego woman faces trial in killing of one Pittsburgh baby twin, assault on other

Nicole Virzi, a 29-year-old psychology doctoral student, was brought from jail to court for the proceeding and the courtroom was filled with family and friends of the parents of the twins, who were present as well.

www.wtae.com

It’s really unbelievable. Here one twin is injured and the parents rush to Children’s Hospital, only to have the other twin fatally injured while they’re gone. These were supposedly dear friends of hers. It seems bizarre that with her academic future she would behave in such a catastrophic way.

 

[JoeFromLB]

Ph.D. Student Visiting Friend During School Break Is Accused of Murdering Baby, Abusing Slain Child's Twin

Nicole Virzi was babysitting for a friend at the time of the infant's death.

people.com

A Ph.D. student is accused of murdering an infant boy and abusing his twin brother while babysitting for a family friend in Pittsburgh.

View attachment 513025

The dead eyes look. Possessed?
No Ph.D. for you! Maybe an exorcism instead.

 

[SMK777]

So her attorneys assert that the doctor’s assessment is incorrect?

Woman accused of killing infant, assaulting his twin brother in Shadyside

According to investigators, one of the twins, 6-week-old Leon Katz, died of blunt-force trauma to the head.

www.wtae.com

In the criminal complaint, police write that Virzi was babysitting infant Leon Katz inside the parents' apartment in the 6,000 block of Walnut Street in Shadyside while the parents had taken the baby's twin brother to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh due to injuries to that twin's genital area pointed out by Virzi.

"The injuries sustained by both (twins are) consistent with having been sustained as a result of child abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that are not natural and not accidental," a doctor informed detectives, according to the criminal complaint.

"Our client denies these allegations. She is a loving person and a friend to these people and would never harm anyone's child, let alone theirs," Shrager said.
Virzi told police she had gone in the family's kitchen to get a baby bottle and heard the baby screaming. She told police that when she returned, the baby was on the floor and out of a bouncer seat.

She called 911. She told police she was the one who observed the injury to the other twin earlier, and notified the parents.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

IMO her defense might be that someone else injured the first baby and the second baby died in a tragic accident. Sigh.

The team presenting the case will need to be giving their all,I because I think it sounds like she's going to claim complete innocence. All JMO.

I fear you are right, it does read that way. DARVO. The others present were the parents of the babies, guess she may try to cast aspersions on them? Or plead mental illness?

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

The dead eyes look. Possessed?
No Ph.D. for you! Maybe an exorcism instead.

I noticed that too, flat, dead eyed stare. Attacking the genitals of a baby? And the head of his tiny twin? Should never be released, ever. People HAD to know she was off.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I just can’t see how one twin was injured, and another dead, but all belief in her guilt stems from some misunderstanding.

I think she may claim the parents did it to the first baby, she just spotted the harm. Then the other baby cracked his own skull? So, she is the true hero bc she called 911?

 

[Curious Me]

In the criminal complaint, police recounted that Virzi was babysitting infant Leon Katz inside the parents' apartment in the 6000 block of Walnut Street in Shadyside while the parents had taken the baby's twin brother to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh due to injuries to that twin's genital area pointed out by Virzi.​

More details needed. She comes from out of town, it sounds like to see the woman friend and her family, and is staying someplace else, but somehow is left with the children. Did she even know her way around young babies? This is a very sad event-- sweet baby Leon gone. I'm struggling that she would want to hurt the babies, and it's bizarre to think she intentionally harmed them.

We have no details as to why she would be the one pointing out their child's genital condition. Was she there changing diapers? Can't imagine how you'd bring that up. Yes, I'm going to ask lots of questions to try to understand. What kind of "genital injuries"? I don't suppose that could mean diaper rash. Was that twin recently circumcised? So, she points out suspicious injuries of one twin, but she was still left to watch the other twin? Did they just rush out with the injured twin, not suspecting her, rushed out in a big hurry, and leaved her with Leon?​

PhD student accused of murdering close friend’s newborn baby, abusing tot’s twin is daughter of prominent NYC cardiologist

The friend said she did not know Virzi to be violent but said she said she “had some interpersonal issues. I would say she was a little rigid. She was nice. But very driven and motivated.&#82…

nypost.com

The friend said she did not know Virzi to be violent but said noted she “had some interpersonal issues. I would say she was a little rigid. She was nice. But very driven and motivated.”

I wonder what this means. Rigid? Babies require flexibility and patience. With all her study of psychology and moods, I'm left wondering if she had any control over her own if placed in a childcare position. ​

All my own thoughts and MOO