Nicole Virzi pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other charges, ending a case in which prosecutors had once sought the death penalty.
PITTSBURGH — A California woman pleaded guilty to killing her friend’s 6-week-old son and injuring his twin brother while visiting their family in Pittsburgh, accepting a deal that sends her to state prison for 35 to 80 years.
Nicole Virzi, 32, entered the guilty pleas Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. She pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children in connection with the June 2024 death of Leon Katz and injuries suffered by his twin brother, Ari. The agreement ended the possibility of a trial in which prosecutors had planned to pursue a first-degree murder conviction and a potential death sentence.
The case began while Virzi was visiting Leon’s parents, Savannah Roberts and Ethan Katz, at their home in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. On June 15, 2024, the parents took Ari to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh after injuries were discovered on the infant. Virzi remained at the home with Leon. Authorities later determined that both boys had suffered injuries while in Virzi’s care.
While alone with Leon, Virzi called 911 and initially reported that the child had fallen from a baby seat. The infant was taken for emergency treatment with a severe skull injury and brain bleeding and later died. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Leon’s death a homicide caused by blunt-force trauma to the head.
Investigators said the account Virzi first gave did not explain the severity of the baby’s injuries. During an extended police interview, she eventually admitted deliberately hurting Leon, according to accounts of the investigation presented in court and reported by Pittsburgh news organizations. She also admitted injuring Ari. Authorities said medical findings showed the twins’ injuries were inflicted rather than accidental.
The criminal case initially carried the possibility of the harshest punishment available under Pennsylvania law. Prosecutors had announced plans to seek the death penalty if Virzi were convicted of first-degree murder. Under Wednesday’s agreement, she instead pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and the other charges and received a minimum prison term of 35 years and a maximum of 80 years.
Prosecutors said the wishes of Leon’s parents were an important factor in resolving the case without a trial. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office said the family had already endured severe grief and emotional pain during more than two years of criminal proceedings. Prosecutors said they remained prepared to try the case but agreed to the plea after consulting with the family and weighing public safety.
Virzi did not address the court during the hearing. Her attorney, Tina Miller, said an apology could not undo the harm suffered by the family. Family members submitted statements describing the loss of Leon and the continuing effects of the crimes as they raise his surviving twin brother.
The plea marked a sharp change from Virzi’s position after her 2024 arrest, when a defense attorney said she maintained her innocence. Her lawyers later challenged statements she made to investigators, arguing that circumstances surrounding the lengthy police interview made them unreliable. A judge rejected an effort to keep those statements from a possible trial.
With the guilty pleas accepted and the prison term imposed, the case will not proceed to the capital murder trial prosecutors once anticipated. The district attorney’s office has asked that Leon’s parents and family be given privacy as they continue to grieve and care for his surviving brother.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 29, 2026.