# Sentencing of Nicole Virzi for infant homicide

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sentencing-of-nicole-virzi-for-infant-homicide
> Updated: 2026-10-31T18:04:00.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2.

Nicole Virzi, a 32-year-old doctoral student from San Diego, has been sentenced to between 35 and 80 years in prison following a guilty plea. The charges include third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The crimes took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in June 2024. While visiting her friend, Savannah Roberts, Virzi reportedly identified injuries on one of the newborn twins, Ari, and offered to care for the other twin, Leon, while the parents sought medical attention. Although Virzi initially claimed Leon had fallen from a baby bouncer, an autopsy revealed the infant died from blunt force trauma to the head, including a severe skull fracture and brain hemorrhages.

Virzi admitted to investigators that she had an uncontrollable compulsion to harm children. She confessed to intentionally shaking and dropping Leon multiple times, including onto a ceramic floor. By pleading guilty, Virzi avoided a trial that could have potentially resulted in a death sentence.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-31: Nicole Virzi sentenced to up to 80 years for killing friend's infant

Nicole Virzi was sentenced to 35 to 80 years in prison after pleading guilty to the homicide of her friend's six-week-old son in Pittsburgh.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nicole-virzi-sentenced-to-up-to-80-years-for-killing-friends-infant

### 2026-10-28: Nicole Virzi sentenced to up to 80 years for killing infant

Nicole Virzi pleaded guilty to the third-degree murder of 6-week-old Leon Katz in Pittsburgh, admitting to a lifelong compulsion to harm children.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nicole-virzi-pleads-guilty-to-homicide-of-infant-in-san-diego-case

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Cite as: Sentencing of Nicole Virzi for infant homicide. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sentencing-of-nicole-virzi-for-infant-homicide