A California PhD student accused of beating a friend’s newborn baby made a bone-chilling admission to cops after they arrested her for child abuse, prosecutors said.
Nicole Virzi, who went to UC San Diego and was weeks away from earning the prestigious academic credentials, took a plea deal Wednesday in the death of her “former best friend’s” six-week-old baby.
Virzi allegedly admitted to cops in a 13-hour-long interrogation following the baby’s death that she has long controlled a disturbing compulsion: an urge to kill kids.
“From a very, very young age, I don’t know what it is, but I always had this urge – almost like a compulsion I can’t control – to hurt kids,” she allegedly told cops.
Virzi admitted to killing Leon Katz and injuring his twin brother back in 2024, pleading guilty to third-degree criminal homicide and to injuring the other infant. She was facing a potential death sentence if she had been convicted of first-degree murder. The family of the slain infant wanted to avoid a trial.
A Pittsburgh police officer who said he responded to the couple’s home told The Daily Mail he was disappointed in the plea deal. “To go from murder-one to this? It’s pretty amazing,” he said. ‘We know she did it. She confessed to it.”
Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Emma Schoedel said they made the deal in part to honor the family’s wishes.
“This was a horrific case in which Virzi used her trusted relationship with the Roberts/Katz family to place herself in a situation where she could commit her horrendous acts. Throughout the criminal justice process, the Roberts/Katz family has continued to endure crushing emotional pain and grief,” the DA’s office said in a statement.
Virzi allegedly had been watching the infant while her former friend, Savannah Roberts, took little Leon’s twin brother to a hospital with an injury to his genitals, according to police. Police later learned that Virzi caused the injury.
She claimed the other child suffered the fatal injuries after she left him alone in a bouncer seat to get a baby bottle in the kitchen. The alleged killer then heard him screaming and returned to see he had fallen on his head, she claimed.
Leon Katz, who was six weeks old, suffered a severe skull fracture and brain bleeds that caused his death.
From the California Post
““From a very, very young age, I don’t know what it is, but I always had this urge – almost like a compulsion I can’t control – to hurt kids,” she allegedly told cops.” When she is released from incarceration after serving a light sentence on the lesser charge and she then kills again, will the Katz family be glad they denied justice for Leon?
I say– Death Penalty for this case. No college should ever have admitted this sick, violent, very dangerous, perverted moron with no mind and no moral conscience. A horrific danger to our society. Too many pseudo-intellectual, fake, worthless college degrees are being awarded to worthless morons in America for the last 50-60 years in a terribly failed “education” system. Garbage.
It is good idea for men to stay away from women and have nothing to do with them.
Why does this site allow such idiotic comments?
I agree with why October 31, 2026 at 12:48 pm. Vatican II sinner needs therapy.
I Cor VII:1 (Douay-Rheims)
“Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman:”
Why did they allow such an idiotic verse into the Bible?
I see that Daniel is not so pious and holy after all.
Vatican II sinner– please do read carefully all that St. Paul had to say, in writing to the Christians of ancient Corinth– a corrupt city, gravely sinful. Read the entire Chapter 7. St. Paul exhorts husbands and wives to be faithful to each other, to respect marriage vows, and never commit adultery. For the unmarried, it is good to stay unmarried– like St. Paul– if you choose to do so, and to serve the Lord with an undivided heart. And much more! (Can’t say more, 100 word limit.)
“I see that Daniel is not so pious and holy after all.”
I’m sure I am not as pious and holy as I would lilke to be, even with the advantage of living in a Catholic retirement setting with daily Mass and rosary, and the continual inspiration of dedicated Carmelite sisters. The road to holiness is rocky under the best of circumstances due to the dismaying tendency toward pride and concupiscience–and sloth–especially sloth. If I have fooled anyone into believing I am exempt from besetting sin, the fault is mine. But our Lord’s promises of mercy are still vital for our mental and spiritual health, and I try to remember: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Re: Vatican II sinner and Daniel Gallup – please don’t take pot-shots at each other. I kind of understood VII’s comment (which he later cited). I also don’t think he/she needs therapy. VII sometimes speaks tongue-in-cheek which I like. Daniel G. is also a good person. I tend to see the humorous side, but maybe that’s just me. Anway, cheers to you both!!!