Woman who killed best friend’s newborn said she had a years-long compulsion to hurt children, reports say

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. (Gray News) - A woman admitted to killing her best friend’s 6-week-old son and injuring his twin brother while babysitting in Pennsylvania, prosecutors said.

Nicole Virzi, 32, pleaded guilty Wednesday to third-degree murder and other charges, avoiding a potential death penalty trial. She was sentenced to 35 to 80 years in prison.

In 2024, Virzi was visiting Pittsburgh to assist her longtime friend, Savannah Roberts, with newborn twins Leon and Ari Katz, NBC News reported.

When the parents took Ari to a hospital to treat unexplained injuries, Virzi offered to watch Leon.

Later that night, Virzi called 911 claiming Leon fell from a baby bouncer. He was rushed to a children’s hospital, where he died.

An autopsy revealed Leon died from blunt force trauma to the head, with investigators concluding the catastrophic injuries could not have resulted from a bouncer fall.

Detectives also determined Virzi caused Ari’s initial injuries. Prosecutors revealed in court that Virzi told investigators she “always had a compulsion she could not control to harm kids.”

In a letter to Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos, Roberts said Virzi’s betrayal shattered her trust, writing, “I could’ve never imagined that a person, let alone my best friend, was capable of the cruelty or violence Nicole displayed.”