The harmless child cops say was killed by his Ph.D.-student babysitter has been pictured for the primary time together with the dual brother she can also be accused of injuring.
Nicole Virzi is charged with the homicide of six-and-a-half-week previous Leon Katz at his house in Pittsburgh, on what was his dad’s first Father’s Day — and his mother and father’ first marriage ceremony anniversary.
Virzi, 29, was a ‘trusted buddy’ of the infants’ mother and father Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts.
Police say she allegedly killed the toddler whereas they have been on the hospital together with his twin brother Ari, who they allege Virzi additionally assaulted.
A GoFundMe arrange for the devastated couple says Leon was ‘tragically killed beneath horrific circumstances’ and {that a} ‘trusted household buddy’ has been arrested.
Virzi is charged with murder, youngster endangerment, and aggravated assault however denies any wrongdoing.
Six week-old Leon Katz was murdered by a P.hD scholar babysitter employed by his mother and father, police say
Leon’s alleged killer Nicole Virzi, 29, was a trusted buddy of the toddler’s mother and father Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts
Ethan and Savannah are pictured with Leon and his twin brother Ari, who Virzi can also be accused of attacking
Nicole Virzi is charged with the homicide of six-and-a-half-week previous Leon Katz at his house in Pittsburgh
‘Leon will all the time be remembered as a contented, smiley, goofy child boy. His premature and tragic dying has deeply impacted the Pittsburgh group, ‘ the GoFundMe reads.
Footage taken simply days earlier than the tragedy present twins Leon and Ari aspect by aspect in matching onesies.
Virzi has denied any wrongdoing and her lawyer maintains her innocence.
‘Our consumer denies these allegations. She is a loving particular person and a buddy to those individuals and would by no means hurt anybody’s youngster, not to mention theirs,’ her legal professional David Shrager instructed Pittsburgh’s WTAE.
The accused killer was persevering with to babysit tiny Leon whereas his mother and father have been at UPMC Kids’s Hospital of Pittsburgh together with his twin, Ari, after Virzi stated she noticed an harm on his groin space, police stated.
This image of the dual brothers was taken shortly earlier than Leon’s horrific homicide and the assault on Ari
The infant’s killing got here as their father celebrated father’s day, which additionally fell on the boys’ mother and father’ first marriage ceremony anniversary
She instructed cops that she had gone into the kitchen to get Katz a bottle when she out of the blue heard screaming.
When she returned she stated the newborn had fallen out of his bouncer chair. She then known as 911.
‘The accidents sustained by each (twins are) according to having been sustained because of youngster abuse, as these are inflicted accidents that aren’t pure and never unintended,’ a health care provider instructed investigators, in line with court docket filings.
Virzi is being held with out bail on the Allegheny County Jail. She faces a preliminary listening to on June 28.
Her LinkedIn profile signifies she is a fifth-year scientific psychology candidate on the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.
Virzi, 29, seen in her reserving photograph, was babysitting the kid whereas his mother and father have been at UPMC Kids’s Hospital of Pittsburgh together with his twin after Virzi stated she noticed an harm on his groin
Virzi instructed cops that she was getting Katz a bottle when she heard screaming and noticed he had fallen out of a bouncer
‘She’s going to be 30 years previous. She’s a Ph.D. scholar. She is long-term pals with the household on this scenario,’ Shrager stated.
‘As I’ve stated, it would not present any felony historical past in her background and we’re anxious to get our day in court docket.
‘Proper now, she’s charged with a normal depend of murder, which, for probably the most half, bond will not be out there.
‘In fact, we will be doing our due diligence on that finish and see if we are able to make some adjustments there.’
