Allegheny County prosecutors seek death penalty against woman left to care for a 6-week-old boy
Allegheny County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a woman accused in the June death of a weeks old Pittsburgh boy.
They filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty this week against Nicole Virzi, 30, of San Diego, Calif., according to online court records.
Virzi was arrested in June in connection with the death of Leon Katz, who was about 6 weeks old.
Authorities said in court papers that Leon’s parents left him in Virzi’s care while they took one of their other children to the hospital. Virzi, who was staying in a Shadyside Airbnb, told investigators she was watching the boy when he fell from a bouncer seat and was fatally injured.
The parents reported Leon was alert, conscious and uninjured when dropped him off with Virzi. He was rushed to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh around 11 p.m. and was pronounced dead early the next day.
He had a skull fracture and multiple brain bleeds, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. Virzi is charged with homicide, child endangerment and aggravated assault.
She previously denied any wrongdoing through her attorney. No other court action has been scheduled in the case.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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