Legal Charges and Incident Details
Nicole Virzi was arrested following a tragic incident involving the twins under her care. Allegedly, one of the infants, six-and-a-half-week-old Leon Katz, suffered fatal injuries including a skull fracture and brain bleeds, leading to his death. The other twin sustained significant harm and required hospitalization.
Virzi faces charges of homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of children. These charges are based on medical assessments suggesting that the injuries sustained by the infants were consistent with inflicted trauma rather than accidental harm.
Legal Defense and Denial of Allegations
Nicole Virzi has denied any wrongdoing through her attorney, David Shrager, emphasizing her lack of prior criminal record and describing her as a caring individual who would not harm any child. According to Virzi’s account to the police, she noticed an injury on one of the twins and called 911 after hearing the baby scream. She claimed that the other twin fell from a bouncer seat when she briefly left the room to get a baby bottle from the kitchen.
Background and Education
Nicole Virzi is originally from New Jersey, where she attended Northern Highlands Regional High School and graduated in 2012. She then pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at Pepperdine University, completing her studies in 2017. After a two-year gap, Virzi enrolled in the Master of Science program at San Diego State University.
During her academic journey, Virzi gained significant experience in research roles. She worked as a Research Contractor at the University of Pennsylvania and later served as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health. Virzi continued her research as a Graduate Student Researcher at the Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research at UC San Diego Health and the Veterans Medical Research Foundation.
Current Legal Status
As of now, Nicole Virzi remains in custody without bail at the Allegheny County Jail pending her preliminary hearing scheduled for June 28. The case has garnered significant attention due to the severity of the charges and the tragic circumstances surrounding the infants under her care.
