Who is Nicole Virzi? PhD student accused of baby murder

Photo: Allegheny County Jail

In June, UC San Diego student Nicole Virzi was babysitting her friend's 6-month-old twins when she called 911. She told police the baby, Leon Katz, had fallen out of his crib and hit his head. Leon was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead. Virzi insists it was an accident, but the next day she was charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault. Prosecutors believe Virzi is also responsible for the injuries to Leon's twin brother, Ari. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.

Here's everything we know about the case:

Virzi is a 30-year-old fifth-year doctoral student studying behavioral medicine at the University of California, San Diego. According to her bio on the university's website, she focuses on how “depression, stress, negative emotions and trauma” affect physical health and behavior, such as heart disease and physical activity, in vulnerable groups. According to her attorney, she was a “longtime friend” of the twins' parents and has no criminal past.

In mid-June, Virzi visited the twins' parents, Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts, at their Pittsburgh-area home. According to a criminal complaint filed by the San Diego Union TribuneVirzi says she noticed Ari's genitals were swollen and that he had blood in his diaper, and she notified his parents, who took the baby to the hospital. Virzi stayed behind to watch Leon and called 911 later that evening to report that he had fallen and hit his head. Paramedics took Leon to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next morning.

Virzi says Leon's fall was an accident. She later told police she hadn't strapped Leon into the bouncer — though CNN points out Virzi referred to a “bassinet” in the 911 call — when she left the room to get a baby bottle. She then heard him screaming, according to the criminal complaint, and found him on the floor. Virzi told a 911 dispatcher Leon was conscious but struggling to breathe. Prosecutors, however, believe she was responsible for the infant's death. The medical examiner's investigation found Leon had a severe skull fracture and multiple brain hemorrhages and ruled his death a blunt force homicide. Doctors who examined the baby said his injuries were “consistent with child abuse as they are inflicted injuries that are neither natural nor accidental,” according to WTAE. According to the Pittsburgh Police Department, police said Virzi had no “plausible explanation” for the severity of his injuries. Post Gazetteespecially since investigators noticed that the baby bouncer was only 46 centimeters above the ground.

Prosecutors also allege that Virzi is responsible for Ari's injuries. While Virzi told police she saw Ari scratching his face while kicking in the car seat, the medical experts who treated the baby said he had scratches, bruises and swelling on his face, belly button and genitals – injuries they described as “unnatural and indicative of abuse,” according to the Independent. Katz and Roberts denied any wrongdoing and told police that Virzi was alone with the baby immediately before reporting the genital injury and that they did not see either of their sons injured. Neither of the twins' parents has spoken publicly about the case.

Virzi was charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault and child endangerment. On July 24, she appeared in handcuffs before a courtroom full of friends and family of the twins' parents, where her attorney, David Shrager, maintained her innocence. “My client is emotionally devastated for the family. These were her close friends, and she is suffering greatly,” Shrager said. He added that no one should jump to conclusions based on the information available. “There is a general misunderstanding in the public about what happened,” he said. “And we ask people to wait until they know all the facts to form an opinion on this matter.”

According to CBS, she waived her right to a hearing and plans to plead not guilty in court.

On August 23, prosecutors filed a legal notice that they will seek the death penalty in Virzi's case. To justify this unusual step, prosecutors cited four factors, including the fact that Virzi allegedly tortured a victim who was under 12 years old. Shrager told the Daily Mail He said he was shocked by the decision and that his client had taken the news “as well as could be expected.”

Pennsylvania is one of 27 states where the death penalty is still legal. However, there have been no executions there since 1999. Governor Josh Shapiro has campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty. There is currently no woman on death row in the state.

Virzi is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bail. Shrager told the Daily Mail that Virzi’s family supports their daughter “completely, 100 percent.”

We have reached out to Virzi's attorney and the prosecutor's office for comment and will update this post if we receive a response.