Glamorous PhD student Nicole Virzi’s shock at learning she may now face death penalty: ‘Did not believe this would happen’

A PhD candidate accused of killing her friend’s six-week-old baby was surprised by the prosecution’s decision to seek the death penalty if she is convicted.

Nicole Virzi, 29, is being held pending a preliminary hearing on charges she killed Leon Katz while she was babysitting him at her family’s Pittsburgh home in June.

Her attorney David Shrager told DailyMail.com that he had spoken to Virzi about the possibility of the state pursuing the death penalty, but that he did not expect that to happen.

I didn’t believe [it] “what would happen,” he said. “Of course we discussed this as a possibility… I knew it could happen.”

Police allege she is responsible for causing Leon to suffer a fractured skull and several bleeds on the brain that were detected by a CT scan

Virzi responded to the news “as well as could be expected,” he said, noting that it was “obviously very difficult news and not what we were hoping would happen.”

Despite the shock, Mr Shrager said both he and his client “have confidence in our defense of the case.”

“She’s looking forward to having the opportunity to tell her truth,” he said.

Mr Shrager said he alerted Virzi’s family immediately after learning of the prosecution’s decision, describing it as a “difficult conversation”.

“But they remain positive,” he said.

Virzi’s family will be present at her next court appearance, scheduled for September 13, as they prepare to “fully and completely, 100 percent, support their daughter.”

“They have made it very clear that they love their daughter and that they will support her,” he said.

Her attorney David Shrager told DailyMail.com that he had spoken to Virzi about the possibility of the state pursuing the death penalty, but that he did not expect that to happen.

Nicole Virzi, 29, is being held pending a preliminary hearing on charges she killed Leon Katz while she was babysitting him at the family’s Pittsburgh home in June.

Police allege she is responsible for causing baby Leon to have a fractured skull and multiple hemorrhages on his brain that were detected by a CT scan. She is also accused of injuring Leon’s twin brother Ari, who survived.

Court documents filed last week show the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty against Virzi.

The case file, which outlines the reasons for seeking the death penalty, states: ‘The defendant committed the murder while in the process of committing a crime. The crime was committed by means of torture.’

Virzi was a “trusted friend” of the babies’ parents, Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts, who was babysitting the twins while she was away on college vacation.

Virzi was a “trusted friend” of the babies’ parents, Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts, who babysat the twins while she was away on a study break

Police allege she told officers she had gone into the kitchen to give one of the twins a bottle when she suddenly heard screaming. When she returned, she said the baby had fallen out of his bouncer. She then called 911.

She discovered an injury in Ari’s groin area, alerted his parents, and continued to watch Leon while they took Ari to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh to have the injury assessed.

According to court documents, a doctor told investigators that “the injuries sustained by both (twins) are consistent with injuries resulting from child abuse in that these injuries are not natural and are not accidental.”

Virzi continues to maintain her innocence.

According to court documents, a doctor told investigators that “the injuries sustained by both (twins) are consistent with injuries resulting from child abuse in that these injuries are not natural and are not accidental.”

Mr Shrager said Virzi is trying to stay positive in custody and is doing the best she can as she awaits her day in court.

“She’s using her time there productively and making the best of the situation,” he said. “Her parents … visit her regularly.”

Virzi is a PhD candidate focusing on behavioral medicine. According to her bio at UC San Diego, her “research focuses on exploring the complex interplay between psychological factors, such as depression, stress, negative emotions, and trauma, and critical health outcomes and behaviors.”

“I am particularly interested in examining these relationships within female and trauma-exposed populations. By focusing on these relationships, my research aims to shed light on the unique challenges and opportunities for intervention within these vulnerable groups,” she said.