PhD student Nicole Virzi accused of murdering her friend’s baby talked about depression in women days before the attack
A video posted just days before PhD student Nicole Virzi allegedly killed a friend’s baby shows her discussing an article she wrote about depression in women.
In the video shared by the academic journal Heart and Mind on June 13, Virzi wears a white blazer and comes across as she explores how somatic symptoms of depression in women can lead to heart disease risks.
Three days after the video was posted, the clinical psychology doctoral candidate at UC San Diego watched her friends’ two babies, Leon and Ari, during a college break.
After being entrusted with the two babies, Virzi was arrested and charged with murdering six-and-a-half-week-old Leon in his Pittsburgh home, on what was his father’s first Father’s Day — and his parents’ first wedding. birthday.
Virzi, 29, was a “trusted friend” of the babies’ parents, Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts.
Nicole Virzi, pictured, appears in a video posted on X by the Heart and Mind Journal. She summarized a 2022 study she published in that journal about how depression and other symptoms in women can lead to heart disease.
As lead author of a 2022 study published by the Heart and Mind Journal, Virzi appeared in the video posted to X and quickly summarized the findings of her research.
She and seven other authors worked on the paper, including Thomas Rutledge, professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego.
On her UC San Diego profileshe describes Rutledge as her mentor, but gave no further details.
DailyMail.com approached Rutledge for comment.
Police say Virzi allegedly killed Leon while they were in the hospital with his twin brother Ari, who they also allegedly attacked.
A GoFundMe set up for the devastated couple says Leon ‘tragically died under horrific circumstances’ and a ‘trusted family friend’ has been arrested.
Virzi is charged with murder, child endangerment and aggravated assault.
‘Leon will always be remembered as a happy, smiley, goofy baby boy. His untimely and tragic death has had a deep impact on the Pittsburgh community,” the GoFundMe said.
In photos taken just days before the tragedy, twins Leon and Ari are seen side by side in matching rompers.
Virzi has denied all allegations and her lawyer maintains her innocence.
Six-week-old Leon Katz was killed by a babysitter hired by his parents, police say
Ethan and Savannah are pictured with Leon and his twin brother Ari, who Virzi is also accused of attacking
This photo of the twin brothers was taken shortly before Leon’s gruesome murder and attack on Ari
Nicole Virzi is accused of killing six-and-a-half-week-old Leon Katz in his Pittsburgh home
“Our client denies these allegations. She is a loving person and a friend to these people and would never harm anyone’s child, let alone theirs,” her attorney David Shrager told Pittsburgh’s WTAE.
The accused killer continued to babysit little Leon while his parents were with his twin brother Ari at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh after Virzi said she noticed an injury in his groin area, police said.
She told police she had gone to the kitchen to get the baby a bottle when she suddenly heard screaming.
When she returned, she said the baby had fallen out of his rocker. She then called 911.
“The injuries suffered by both (twins) are consistent with those of child abuse because these are injuries that are not natural and not accidental,” a doctor told investigators, according to court documents.
Virzi told police she went to get Katz a bottle when she heard screaming and saw he had fallen from a bouncer
Virzi, 29, seen in her booking photo, was babysitting the child while his parents were at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh with his twin brother after Virzi said she noticed an injury to his groin
Virzi is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bail. She will be arraigned for a preliminary hearing on June 28.
Virzi is a fifth-year clinical psychology candidate participating in the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.
‘She’s going to be thirty years old. She has been promoted. student. She has been friends with the family for a long time in this situation,” Shrager said.
‘As I said, there does not appear to be any criminal history in her background and we are keen to get our day in court.
“At this time she is charged with a general charge of murder, which is largely non-bailable.
‘We will of course do due diligence on that front and see if we can make some changes.’