Woman accused of killing friend's newborn, abusing child's twin in Pittsburgh: Police
A Southern California woman was accused of killing a newborn baby and of abusing the child's twin brother while she visited children's parents in Western Pennsylvania.
Nicole Elizabeth Virzi, 29, is charged with one count of homicide, multiple counts of aggravated assault and additional counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection to the alleged killing and abuse at an apartment in Shadyside, a Pittsburgh suburb, Allegheny County court records show.
Pittsburgh Police Department officers arrested Virzi on June 16 − after the reported crimes took place at the home where police said the children's parents, Savannah Roberts and Ethan Katz live, about 4.5 miles north east of downtown.
According to her biography on the San Diego State University and UC San Diego website, Virzi is pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the schools.
Jail records show Virzi remained jailed without bond Tuesday and is due in court for preliminary hearing in Magisterial District Court in Pittsburgh on July 24.
Fundraiser created to help twins' parents with medical costs
According to a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY, on June 15 just after 11:15 p.m., Virzi dialed 911 to report a six-and-a-half week-old baby she was watching suffered a bump to the head after falling from a bassinet and was "becoming unresponsive."
Arriving first responders transported the baby, identified as Leon Katz,to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital where a doctor pronounced the baby dead just before 5:50 a.m. the next day.
Throughout the course of this investigation, detectives learned that before Leon was injured, his parents took his twin to the same hospital after Virzi alerted them she noticed the baby suffered injuries to his genitals
While the parents were at the hospital, Leon was left in Virzi's care, the report continues.
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According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner Investigator learned Leon suffered injuries as a result of a fall from a bouncer and a scan showed he suffered "a severe skull fracture to the left side of the head, along with multiple brain bleeds."
A doctor who examined both twins told police the injuries they suffered were "sustained as a result of child abuse" and “not accidental."
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.
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'My client denies any intentional actions'
Virzi's lawyer, David Schrager, told USA TODAY his client is friends with the twin's parents, and before her arrest traveled from California to visit them. At the time of the incident police wrote in the complaint, Virzi had been staying in a nearby short-term rental.
"There are allegations my client was involved in harming the child in some way. My client denies any intentional actions," Schrager said Tuesday. "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 know each other for at least five years."
Fundraiser created to help twin's family raises more than $66K
An online fundraiser created five days agao by Isabella Kahhalé and Sam Plateto to help the family referred to Virzi as a “trusted family friend.”
As of Tuesday, it has raised more than $66,000 in donations.
"In addition to coping with the unbearable loss of their beloved son Leon, Savannah and Ethan are facing significant financial burdens," the creators wrote on the page. "Funds raised will cover funeral expenses, medical bills resulting from injuries sustained by both Leon and Ari, essential baby supplies, and relocation costs as they navigate this difficult time."
USA TODAY has reached out to Kahhalé.
Suspect a child is being abused? Call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.