Nicole Virzi sentenced to up to 80 years for killing friend's infant

Nicole Virzi, 32, has been sentenced to between 35 and 80 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree homicide, aggravated assault, and two counts of child endangerment. The crimes occurred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2024.

Virzi, a resident of San Diego, California, had traveled to Pittsburgh to assist her friend, Savannah Roberts, with her newborn twins, Ari and Leon. After the parents discovered injuries on Ari, they sought medical evaluation for him. During this time, Virzi remained with Leon and reported to emergency services that the infant had fallen from a swing. However, an autopsy revealed that Leon died from blunt force trauma to the head, which investigators determined was inconsistent with a fall.

Virzi admitted to intentionally harming both children, stating she felt a compulsion to hurt children. She confessed to shaking Leon forcefully and dropping him multiple times, including onto a ceramic floor. By pleading guilty, Virzi avoided a trial that could have resulted in a death sentence.