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MoreQuiet 14d · day 15

San Diego woman pleads guilty to murdering best friend's infant son in Pittsburgh

Nicole Virzi admits she shook and dropped 6-week-old Leon Katz, killing him, and injured his twin brother, citing a lifelong "compulsion" to hurt children.

newest coverage 13d agosummary written 13d ago10 pieces MastodonNewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Nicole Virzi, 32, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, aggravated assault and child endangerment in the 2024 death of 6-week-old Leon Katz.
  • Virzi told investigators she had a lifelong "compulsion .... to hurt kids" and admitted intentionally shaking and dropping the infant.
  • She faces 35 to 80 years in prison; NBC News reports the plea deal will likely keep her imprisoned for life.
  • The victim's twin brother Ari survived abuse during the same visit; his mother Savannah Roberts gave an emotional statement about ongoing trauma.

“Being his mom brings me more joy and comfort than anything in my life ever has.”

Savannah Roberts, Mother of the victim · LA Times ↗ · Oct 28

Nicole Virzi DefendantLeon Katz VictimAri Surviving twinSavannah Roberts Mother of the twins

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 4h at Oct 28, 12 PM; 10 pieces over 15 days (9 articles · 1 post) Oct 28, 12 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 3Oct 28, 4 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 12 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — quietOct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 12 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Mastodon 1Oct 29, 8 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 2, Newswires 1Oct 30, 12 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietNov 7, 3 AM — quietNov 7, 7 AM — quietNov 7, 11 AM — quietNov 7, 3 PM — quietNov 7, 7 PM — quietNov 7, 11 PM — quietNov 8, 3 AM — quietNov 8, 7 AM — quietNov 8, 11 AM — quietNov 8, 3 PM — quietNov 8, 7 PM — quietNov 8, 11 PM — quietNov 9, 3 AM — quietNov 9, 7 AM — quietNov 9, 11 AM — quietNov 9, 3 PM — quietNov 9, 7 PM — quietNov 9, 11 PM — quietNov 10, 3 AM — quietNov 10, 7 AM — quietNov 10, 11 AM — quietNov 10, 3 PM — quietNov 10, 7 PM — quietNov 10, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 3 PM — quietToday, 7 PM — quiet 12
Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 6Nov 8Nov 10now · 8:09 PM ET
  1. 2

    NBC News reports plea likely means life in prison

    NBC News characterized the plea agreement as one that will likely keep Virzi, described as a "monster," in prison for life.

    “monster…”
    — NBC News
  2. background

    Mother Savannah Roberts describes grief and betrayal in victim statement — In an emotional statement submitted in the case, Leon's mother Savannah Roberts said she never suspected Virzi of abuse and now struggles with fear over caring for the surviving twin, Ari.

  3. 1

    Virzi pleads guilty to murder and assault charges

    Virzi pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, aggravated assault and two counts of child endangerment in the death of Leon Katz and the abuse of his twin, per a statement from the Allegheny County district attorney's office; she faces 35 to 80 years in prison.

    1. 1 outlet ‘Inconceivable cruelty’: Woman pleads guilty to killing best friend’s baby in Shadyside

      first by TribLIVE.com, 15d ago

  4. background

    Scans reveal Leon suffered skull fracture and brain bleeds — Hospital scans found Leon had a severe skull fracture and multiple brain bleeds; a doctor determined both boys' injuries were consistent with child abuse, according to Virzi's arrest report.

  5. background

    Virzi injures both twins; Leon dies after she babysits him — Virzi reported odd injuries on twin Ari to the parents, who took him to the hospital while Virzi offered to babysit Leon; during that time Leon suffered fatal injuries, and Virzi called 911 initially claiming he had fallen on his head.

  6. background

    Virzi visits Pittsburgh to help best friend with newborn twins — Nicole Virzi, a one-time UC San Diego doctoral candidate in clinical psychology, traveled from San Diego to Pittsburgh to spend time with her best friend Savannah Roberts' newborn twin boys, Leon and Ari.

  7. background

    Virzi admits to investigators she intentionally harmed the twins — According to case transcripts, Virzi eventually told investigators she shook Leon hard and dropped him several times on purpose, including onto a tile floor, saying she'd had a "compulsion .... to hurt kids" her whole life but "didn't want him to die."

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 5 outlets Woman pleads guilty to murdering best friend’s 6-week-old son, said she had compulsion to harm kids

    first by NBC News, 13d ago · also Mercury News, LA Times California, LA Times, Yahoo

    1 more headline

and 1 smaller piece