A video released days before doctoral student Nicole Virzi allegedly killed a friend’s baby shows her talking about an article she wrote about depression in women.
In the video Shared by the academic journal Heart and Mind on June 13, Virzi wears a white jacket and speaks well as she delves into how the somatic symptoms of depression in women can lead to heart disease risks.
Three days after the video was posted, the UC San Diego clinical psychology doctoral student was babysitting her friends’ two babies, Leon and Ari, over college break.
After being entrusted with the two babies, Virzi was arrested and charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week-old Leon at his home in Pittsburgh, on what was his father’s first Father’s Day and his parents’ first wedding. parents. anniversary.
Virzi, 29, was a “trusted friend” of the babies’ parents, Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts.
Nicole Virzi, pictured, appears in a video published on X by the Heart and Mind Journal. She summarized a 2022 study she published in that journal about how depression and other symptoms could lead to heart disease in women.
As lead author of a study 2022 Published by Heart and Mind Journal, Virzi appeared in the video posted on X and quickly summarized his research findings.
She and seven other authors worked on the paper, one of whom was Thomas Rutledge, a professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego.
In Your UC San Diego ProfileHe describes Rutledge as his mentor, but did not elaborate.
DailyMail.com has approached Rutledge for comment.
Police say Virzi allegedly killed Leon while they were in the hospital with his twin brother Ari, whom they allege she also assaulted.
A GoFundMe set up for the devastated couple says Leon was “tragically murdered in horrific circumstances” and that a “trusted family friend” has been arrested.
Virzi is charged with murder, child endangerment and aggravated assault.
‘Leon will always be remembered as a happy, smiling, goofy baby. ‘His untimely and tragic death has deeply impacted the Pittsburgh community,’ the GoFundMe reads.
Photos taken a few days before the tragedy show twins Leon and Ari side by side in matching rompers.
Virzi has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyer maintains his innocence.
Six-week-old Leon Katz was killed by a doctoral student babysitter hired by his parents, police say
Ethan and Savannah are pictured with Leon and his twin brother Ari, who Virzi is also accused of attacking.
This photo of the twin brothers was taken shortly before the horrific murder of Leon and the attack on Ari.
Nicole Virzi is charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week-old Leon Katz in his Pittsburgh home.
‘Our client denies these allegations. “He is a loving person and friend to these people and he would never harm anyone’s children, much less theirs,” his attorney David Shrager told WTAE in Pittsburgh.
The accused killer continued to care for little Leon while his parents were at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh with his twin, Ari, after Virzi said she saw an injury in his groin area, police said.
She told police she had gone to the kitchen to get the baby a bottle when she suddenly heard screaming.
When she returned, she said the baby had fallen out of her bouncer. She then called 911.
“The injuries sustained by both (twins) are consistent with having been suffered as a result of child abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that are neither natural nor accidental,” a doctor told investigators, according to court documents.
Virzi told police he was giving Katz a bottle when he heard screams and saw that he had fallen out of a hammock.
Virzi, 29, seen in her booking photo, was babysitting the boy while his parents were at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh with his twin after Virzi said she saw an injury in his groin.
Virzi is being held without bond at the Allegheny County Jail. He faces a preliminary hearing on June 28.
Virzi is a fifth-year clinical psychology candidate in the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.
‘She’s going to be 30 years old. She is a doctor. student. “She’s a long-time family friend in this situation,” Shrager said.
‘As I said, he shows no criminal history on his record and we are looking forward to having our day in court.
‘At this time, she is charged with a general charge of murder, for which, for the most part, no bail is available.
“Of course, we’re going to do our due diligence on that and see if we can make some changes there.”