29-Year-Old PhD Student Accused of ‘Torturing Friend’s Baby to Death’ While Babysitting Twins Faces Death Penalty

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Nicole Virzi, a PhD student accused of the brutal murder of her friend’s six-week-old baby, Leon Katz, and inflicting harm on his twin brother. The Allegheny District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday their intention to pursue capital punishment for the 30-year-old following the tragic incident at the infant’s Pittsburgh home in June.

Virzi is accused of causing fatal injuries to Leon, including severe skull damage that led to multiple brain bleeds. At the time, she was babysitting the twins while their parents, Ethan Katz, and Savannah Roberts, were at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh with Leon’s twin brother, Ari, who had also suffered injuries now attributed to Virzi.

The prosecution’s case argues that Virzi tortured Leon to death. “The defendant committed the killing while in the perpetration of a felony. The offense was committed by means of torture. 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,” prosecutors stated.

Virzi had been considered a “trusted friend” by the infants’ parents, who left her in charge of the children while they dealt with Ari’s health crisis. According to Mirror US, Virzi claimed that while she was preparing a bottle in the kitchen, she heard screams and returned to find Leon had allegedly fallen from his bouncer chair. She immediately called 911.

However, medical professionals contradicted her account. A doctor informed investigators that “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,” according to court documents.

David Shrager, Virzi’s lawyer, has maintained her innocence, stating that she is devastated by Leon’s death. “If there was something that she would want to convey, it would just be the absolutely horrible pain that she’s feeling,” Shrager said. “These were her close friends.”

Despite her plea of not guilty, Virzi faces charges of homicide, child endangerment, and aggravated assault. A GoFundMe page created to support the grieving parents describes how Leon was “tragically killed under horrific circumstances” and acknowledges that a “trusted family friend” has been taken into custody. The fundraising page adds, “Leon will always be remembered as a happy, smiley, goofy baby boy. His untimely and tragic death has deeply impacted the Pittsburgh community.”