The researcher daughter of a distinguished Manhattan cardiologist has been accused of murdering the infant twin son of considered one of her closest friends.
Nicole Virzi, a fifth 12 months Ph.D. candidate on the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, can be accused of physically abusing the dead baby’s twin, based on reports.
Six-week-old Leon Katz, the son of Ethan Katz and his wife Savannah Roberts, died on Father’s Day as Virzi was caring for him within the family’s Pittsburgh home, authorities said.
Virzi and Roberts were doctoral students at different universities — Roberts was studying on the University of Pittsburgh — but each were focused on eating disorders, trauma and body image.
The couple left Leon in Virzi’s care while rushing Ari to the hospital with a mysterious injury to his genitals, which Virzi had alerted them to, authorities said.
While the first-time parents were caring for Ari, Virzi claimed Leon fell from his bouncer chair while she stepped away to get a bottle, based on police and court records.
But doctors found the injuries “consistent with having been sustained in consequence of kid abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that usually are not natural and never accidental,” based on WTAE.
Virzi was known as a “trusted family friend” within the GoFundMe established to assist the grieving parents and their surviving son.
Virzi had been staying in a close-by Airbnb on South Graham Street within the hipster Shadyside neighborhood when she was asked to take care of the infant, who was “alert, conscious and never injured,” based on a criminal criticism obtained by by Pittsburgh’s TRIBLive.
It was not clear why Virzi was in Pittsburgh, but there have been traces of the friendship between the 2 women online.
Virzi’s X account is now protected, making her messages inaccessible.
But Roberts made reference to her not less than twice, once in Jan. 2022 where she referred to Virzi’s “incredible work” and once in May 2021 when she wrote a post to Virzi saying: “You’ll do an AMAZING job! I can’t wait to listen to about your experience.”
Cops arrived Walnut Street home after Virzi called 911 at 11:17 p.m. June 15, authorities said within the criticism. Virzi said the infant had suffered a bump to his head.
Virzi told cops she began babysitting Leon at about 6:30 p.m. that night, and claimed he was doing tremendous, eaten, had soiled two diapers and had been burped, based on the criticism.
She fell asleep “for a time period while Leon was within the bouncer seat,” Virzi claimed. When Virzi awoke, she said, she went to the kitchen to get a bottle for Leon, and heard the infant screaming.
Virzi contended she found Leon lying on the ground, picked him up, and saw “a big bump to the left side of Leon’s head,” prosecutors said within the court document.
Paramedics rushed Leon to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 5:47 a.m. on Father’s Day, police said.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide. Leon’s reason behind death was blunt force trauma to the top.
A head CT scan showed Leon suffered a severe skull fracture to the left side of the top, together with multiple brain bleeds.
Virzi, a graduate of Pepperdine University who holds a graduate degree in clinical psychology from San Diego State, grew up within the tristate area, the daughter of Dr. Peter J. Virzi, a highly-respected cardiologist affiliated with Mt. Sinai Doctors in Manhattan.
“I haven’t any words,” a friend and colleague of Virzi’s told The Post Saturday. “I’m absolutely shocked. I had no idea.”
The friend said she didn’t know Virzi to be violent but said noted she “had some interpersonal issues. I’d say she was somewhat rigid. She was nice. But very driven and motivated.”
A person who identified himself because the suspect’s father hung up when The Post called.
Virzi was charged June 16 with criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a toddler.
Virzi is currently being held without bail on the Allegheny County Jail.
Virzi’s attorney David Shrager told The Post Saturday his client was innocent, and planned to plead not guilty.
“She is clearly devastated,” Shrager said. “She’s highly distraught and deeply sad. She said it was nothing intentional. We’re doing a deep investigation. She has no criminal history. We’ll do our greatest to present her a good hearing in court. This can be a case with a dead child and a young lady in jail. It mustn’t be speculated on before the case goes to court.”
Virzi’s skilled bio says her “research goals to explore the complex interplay between psychological aspects—resembling depression, stress, negative affect, and trauma— and demanding health outcomes and behaviors— resembling metabolic syndrome, heart disease, obesity, eating behavior, and exercise.”
“I’m particularly occupied with exploring these relationships inside female and trauma-exposed populations,” she added. “By concentrating on these relationships, my research goals to make clear the unique challenges and opportunities for intervention inside these vulnerable groups.”
She was also reportedly an instructor on the Cyclebar Carmel Valley in San Diego.
Roberts declined comment.
The researcher daughter of a distinguished Manhattan cardiologist has been accused of murdering the infant twin son of considered one of her closest friends.
Nicole Virzi, a fifth 12 months Ph.D. candidate on the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, can be accused of physically abusing the dead baby’s twin, based on reports.
Six-week-old Leon Katz, the son of Ethan Katz and his wife Savannah Roberts, died on Father’s Day as Virzi was caring for him within the family’s Pittsburgh home, authorities said.
Virzi and Roberts were doctoral students at different universities — Roberts was studying on the University of Pittsburgh — but each were focused on eating disorders, trauma and body image.
The couple left Leon in Virzi’s care while rushing Ari to the hospital with a mysterious injury to his genitals, which Virzi had alerted them to, authorities said.
While the first-time parents were caring for Ari, Virzi claimed Leon fell from his bouncer chair while she stepped away to get a bottle, based on police and court records.
But doctors found the injuries “consistent with having been sustained in consequence of kid abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that usually are not natural and never accidental,” based on WTAE.
Virzi was known as a “trusted family friend” within the GoFundMe established to assist the grieving parents and their surviving son.
Virzi had been staying in a close-by Airbnb on South Graham Street within the hipster Shadyside neighborhood when she was asked to take care of the infant, who was “alert, conscious and never injured,” based on a criminal criticism obtained by by Pittsburgh’s TRIBLive.
It was not clear why Virzi was in Pittsburgh, but there have been traces of the friendship between the 2 women online.
Virzi’s X account is now protected, making her messages inaccessible.
But Roberts made reference to her not less than twice, once in Jan. 2022 where she referred to Virzi’s “incredible work” and once in May 2021 when she wrote a post to Virzi saying: “You’ll do an AMAZING job! I can’t wait to listen to about your experience.”
Cops arrived Walnut Street home after Virzi called 911 at 11:17 p.m. June 15, authorities said within the criticism. Virzi said the infant had suffered a bump to his head.
Virzi told cops she began babysitting Leon at about 6:30 p.m. that night, and claimed he was doing tremendous, eaten, had soiled two diapers and had been burped, based on the criticism.
She fell asleep “for a time period while Leon was within the bouncer seat,” Virzi claimed. When Virzi awoke, she said, she went to the kitchen to get a bottle for Leon, and heard the infant screaming.
Virzi contended she found Leon lying on the ground, picked him up, and saw “a big bump to the left side of Leon’s head,” prosecutors said within the court document.
Paramedics rushed Leon to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 5:47 a.m. on Father’s Day, police said.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide. Leon’s reason behind death was blunt force trauma to the top.
A head CT scan showed Leon suffered a severe skull fracture to the left side of the top, together with multiple brain bleeds.
Virzi, a graduate of Pepperdine University who holds a graduate degree in clinical psychology from San Diego State, grew up within the tristate area, the daughter of Dr. Peter J. Virzi, a highly-respected cardiologist affiliated with Mt. Sinai Doctors in Manhattan.
“I haven’t any words,” a friend and colleague of Virzi’s told The Post Saturday. “I’m absolutely shocked. I had no idea.”
The friend said she didn’t know Virzi to be violent but said noted she “had some interpersonal issues. I’d say she was somewhat rigid. She was nice. But very driven and motivated.”
A person who identified himself because the suspect’s father hung up when The Post called.
Virzi was charged June 16 with criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a toddler.
Virzi is currently being held without bail on the Allegheny County Jail.
Virzi’s attorney David Shrager told The Post Saturday his client was innocent, and planned to plead not guilty.
“She is clearly devastated,” Shrager said. “She’s highly distraught and deeply sad. She said it was nothing intentional. We’re doing a deep investigation. She has no criminal history. We’ll do our greatest to present her a good hearing in court. This can be a case with a dead child and a young lady in jail. It mustn’t be speculated on before the case goes to court.”
Virzi’s skilled bio says her “research goals to explore the complex interplay between psychological aspects—resembling depression, stress, negative affect, and trauma— and demanding health outcomes and behaviors— resembling metabolic syndrome, heart disease, obesity, eating behavior, and exercise.”
“I’m particularly occupied with exploring these relationships inside female and trauma-exposed populations,” she added. “By concentrating on these relationships, my research goals to make clear the unique challenges and opportunities for intervention inside these vulnerable groups.”
She was also reportedly an instructor on the Cyclebar Carmel Valley in San Diego.
Roberts declined comment.
