Ph.D. Student Arrested for Alleged Murder of Baby and Abuse of Twin During School Break Visit

While watching for a family friend in Pittsburgh, a Ph.D. student is accused of killing an infant boy and abusing his twin brother.

Nicole Virzi is 29 years old and is getting her PhD in San Diego. Reports from The San Diego Union-Tribune, WTAE, and WPXI say she was staying in Pittsburgh when the baby died.

Based on court records, Virzi was arrested on June 16 and is now facing charges of criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, and one count of endangering the safety of a child. She has not been given bail, and her first court date is June 28.

According to the criminal charge, WTAE said that Virzi was watching baby Leon Katz while his parents took his twin brother to the hospital after she told them that the baby’s genital area had been hurt.

According to the same lawsuit, the Union-Tribune said that Virzi had been with the baby by himself before the baby was taken to the hospital.

Virzi was in charge of Leon while his parents took their other boy to the hospital, and Leon ended up with a fatal skull fracture, according to the complaint.

As per the complaint, WTAE reported that a doctor who checked the twins told police that the injuries they had were consistent with child abuse and “not accidental.”

David Schrager, Virzi’s lawyer, told the Union-Tribune that his client did not do anything wrong and that the baby fell out of a moving chair while she was not there.

“Our investigation is just starting, but it’s important to know that my client has never been in trouble with the law,” Shrager told the paper. “She is getting her Ph.D. and has known the family for a long time.”

Her bio page on the school’s website says that Virzi is going to San Diego State University and UC San Diego to get her Ph.D. in therapeutic psychology.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Leon’s family called Virzi a “trusted family friend.” It has raised more than $60,000 so far.