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5 months ago
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A video posted days before Ph.D student Nicole Virzi allegedly killed a friend's baby shows her discussing a paper she wrote about depression in women.
In the video shared by the Heart and Mind academic journal on June 13, Virzi is wearing a white blazer and comes off well-spoken as she delves into how somatic symptoms of depression in women can lead to risks of heart disease.
Three days after the video was posted, the UC San Diego doctoral student of clinical psychology was watching her friends' two babies, Leon and Ari, while on college break.
After being entrusted with the two infants, Virzi was arrested and charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week old Leon at his home in Pittsburgh, on what was his dad's first Father's Day -- and his parents' first wedding anniversary.
Virzi, 29, was a 'trusted friend' of the babies' parents Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts.
Nicole Virzi, pictured, appears in a video posted to X by the Heart and Mind Journal. She summed up a 2022 study she published in that journal about how depression and other symptoms could lead to heart disease in women
As the 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, one of which was Thomas Rutledge, a psychiatry professor at UC San Diego.
On her UC San Diego profile, she describes Rutledge as her mentor but didn't give any more specifics.
DailyMail.com approached Rutledge for comment.
Police say Virzi allegedly killed Leon while they were at the hospital with his twin brother Ari, who they allege she also assaulted.
A GoFundMe set up for the devastated couple says Leon was 'tragically killed under horrific circumstances' and that a 'trusted family friend' has been arrested.
Virzi is charged with homicide, child endangerment, and aggravated assault.
'Leon will always be remembered as a happy, smiley, goofy baby boy. His untimely and tragic death has deeply impacted the Pittsburgh community, ' the GoFundMe reads.
Pictures taken just days before the tragedy show twins Leon and Ari side by side in matching onesies.
Virzi has denied any wrongdoing and her lawyer maintains her innocence.
Six week-old Leon Katz was murdered by a Ph.D student 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 picture of the twin brothers was taken shortly before Leon's horrific murder and the attack on Ari
Nicole Virzi is charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week old Leon Katz at his home in Pittsburgh
'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 was continuing to babysit tiny Leon while his parents were at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh with his twin, Ari, after Virzi said she spotted an injury on his groin area, police said.
She told cops that she had gone into 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 bouncer chair. She then called 911.
'The injuries sustained by both (twins are) consistent with having been sustained as a result of child abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that are not natural and not accidental,' a doctor told investigators, according to court filings.
Virzi told cops that she was getting Katz a bottle when she heard screaming and saw he had fallen out of 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 after Virzi said she spotted an injury on his groin
Virzi is being held without bail at the Allegheny County Jail. She faces a preliminary hearing on June 28.
Virzi is a fifth-year clinical psychology candidate on the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.
'She's going to be 30 years old. She's a Ph.D. student. She is long-term friends with the family in this situation,' Shrager said.
'As I've said, it doesn't show any criminal history in her background and we're anxious to get our day in court.
'Right now, she's charged with a general count of homicide, which, for the most part, bond is not available.
'Of course, we're going to be doing our due diligence on that end and see if we can make some changes there.'
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