PhD pupil accused violent assault on pal’s twin infants, leaving one lifeless

A California school pupil killed her pal’s’ 6-week-old child and assaulted his twin brother at their dad and mom’ house in Pittsburgh, police mentioned.

Nicole Virzi, 29, was babysitting the toddler twins Saturday. The College of California-San Diego psychology PhD pupil, a longtime pal of the household, instructed the dad and mom she seen scratches on one twin’s face, stomach and genitals, The San Diego Union-Tribune reviews.

The dad and mom rushed the new child to the hospital and left the coed alone to look at his brother, Leon Katz. That night, the child suffered a number of cranium fractures that led to his loss of life, authorities say.

Virzi has been charged with murder, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of youngsters. The dad and mom mentioned they did nothing mistaken and didn’t see how both new child was injured apart from by the babysitter, the Union-Tribune reviews.

Virzi instructed police she positioned Katz in a highchair that evening however forgot to strap him in earlier than leaving the room to get a bottle, based on the Union-Tribune. When she got here again, the six-week-old was on the ground and had a big bump on his head, Virzi mentioned. She then known as 911.

Emergency crews rushed Katz to a neighborhood hospital, the place he died on Sunday from blunt-force trauma to the top. Medical doctors mentioned the accidents resulted “from baby abuse,” based on CBS Pittsburgh.

Katz didn’t give a “believable clarification” for the toddler’s in depth accidents, police say.

Protection legal professional David Shrager instructed CBS Pittsburgh Katz’s loss of life was “an terrible factor” nevertheless it doesn’t imply “somebody is culpable.”

“Our consumer denies these allegations,” Shrager mentioned, based on native outlet WTAE. “She is a loving particular person and a pal to those individuals and would by no means hurt anybody’s baby, not to mention theirs.”

Virzi pleaded not responsible to all expenses, based on the Union-Tribune. She is being held within the Allegheny County Jail after her bond was denied.

Virzi is a PhD pupil in a medical psychology program collectively run by San Diego State College and the College of California-San Diego. Her analysis areas embody behavioral drugs, ladies’s well being and consuming issues, based on the San Diego State College web site.