Nicole Virzi (29) has been charged with homicide in connection to the death of her friends’ infant son.
As some background into Nicole, she is highly educated and was a psychology doctoral student at San Diego State University and UC San Diego at the time of this event.
“My research aims to explore the complex interplay between psychological factors — such as depression, stress, negative affect, and trauma — and critical health outcomes and behaviors — such as metabolic syndrome, heart disease, obesity, eating behavior, and exercise,” her SDSU page reads. “I am particularly interested in exploring these relationships within female and trauma-exposed populations.”
The parents of the babies are Savannah Roberts and Ethan Katz. The babies were born in May 2024 and their names are Leon and Ari.
Nicole was staying at an AirBNB in Pittsburgh. She visited Ethan and Savannah’s home, maybe on the guise of seeing the babies.
Nicole told the parents that she had found blood in Ari’s diaper and there are reports of wounds/injuries to his genital area. According to the San Diego Union Tribune “scratches and bruises were found on his face, belly and genitals.” Nicole had been alone with Ari just before this happened.
Ethan and Savannah rushed the baby to the hospital, leaving Leon in Nicole’s care. I believe this was at around 6.30pm. From what I have read, the hospital was very busy and they had to wait there for a long period of time.
Nicole would later say that she put Leon in a bouncy chair. She said she changed, burped and fed him throughout the night.
Nicole said she fell asleep “for a period of time while Leon was in the bouncer seat,” the complaint said. When she woke up, she went to the kitchen to get a bottle for Leon, and heard the baby screaming.
She said she found Leon lying on the floor and picked him up, the complaint said. She saw “a large bump to the left side of Leon’s head.”
Nicole called 911 at 11.17pm that night. She said the baby had fallen from a bouncer seat and had suffered a bump to his head. She told dispatchers that the baby was conscious but was having trouble breathing.
Paramedics responded and took Leon to a children’s hospital, where he died. He died at 5.50am on the Sunday, which was Father’s Day.
A CT scan later determined that Leon suffered a skull fracture, along with multiple brain bleeds. Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner Dr. Arlel Goldschmidt later performed a preliminary autopsy and determined Leon’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and ruled his death a homicide.
A doctor who examined both twins told police the injuries they suffered were “sustained as a result of child abuse” and “not accidental.”
Investigators said Nicole could not provide a “plausible explanation” for the injuries. She was arrested and charged with homicide, child endangerment, and aggravated assault.
Defense attorney David Shrager said that Nicole denies any wrongdoing.
“There are allegations my client was involved in harming the child in some way. My client denies any intentional actions,” the attorney said. “Obviously, these are very shocking and disturbing allegations. My client has no criminal history. She is a Ph.D. student and was a longtime friend of the family. They’ve known each other for at least five years.”
She is a loving person and a friend to these people and would never harm anyone’s child, let alone theirs,” he added. “We’re anxious to get our day in court.”
Currently, Shrager told WTAE, “she’s charged with a general count of homicide, which, for the most part, bond is not available. Of course, we’re going to be doing our due diligence on that end and see if we can make some changes there.”
Jail records show Nicole is due in court for preliminary hearing in Magisterial District Court in Pittsburgh on July 24.
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