The innocent baby who cops say was murdered by his PhD student. The nanny has been photographed for the first time alongside her twin brother whom she is also accused of injuring.
Nicole Virzi is charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week-old Leon Katz in his Pittsburgh home on what was her father’s first Father’s Day and her parents’ first wedding anniversary.
Virzi, 29, was a “trusted friend” of the babies’ parents, Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts.
Police say she allegedly killed the baby while they were in the hospital with his twin brother Ari, whom they allege Virzi 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, but denies any wrongdoing.
Six-week-old Leon Katz was killed by a doctoral student babysitter hired by his parents, police say
Leon’s alleged killer, Nicole Virzi, 29, was a trusted friend of the baby’s parents, Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts.
Ethan and Savannah are pictured with Leon and his twin brother Ari, who Virzi is also accused of attacking.
Nicole Virzi is charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week-old Leon Katz in his Pittsburgh home.
‘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.
‘Our client denies these allegations. “He is a loving person and a friend to these people and he would never harm anyone’s children, much less theirs,” his attorney David Shrager told Pittsburgh’s newspaper. WTAE.
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.
This photo of the twin brothers was taken shortly before León’s horrific murder and the attack on Ari.
The baby’s murder occurred while his father was celebrating Father’s Day, which also coincided with the first wedding anniversary of the children’s parents.
She told police she had gone to the kitchen to get Katz 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 is being held without bond at the Allegheny County Jail. He faces a preliminary hearing on June 28.
Her LinkedIn profile indicates that she is a fifth-year clinical psychology candidate in the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.
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 told police he was giving Katz a bottle when he heard screams and saw that he had fallen out of a hammock.
‘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.”