Zappala calls for death penalty for murder of toddler in Shadyside

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THANKS, MIKE. NEW TONIGHT: A WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A TODDLER IS IN COURT. PITTSBURGH'S ACTION NEWS FOUR FIRST TOLD YOU ABOUT THE INCIDENT IN PITTSBURGH'S SHADYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD LAST MONTH. NICOLE VERSEY IS THE WOMAN FACING CHARGES. PITTSBURGH'S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER BOB MAYO IS NOW LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN WATCHING HER FINAL COURT HEARING TODAY, BOB. YES, THE BABY VICTIM'S PARENTS, THE PARENTS, THE FAMILY AND THE FRIENDS FILLED THE COURTROOM FOR THIS HEARING. IT WAS PLANNED. SOME OF THEM ARRIVED LONG BEFORE THE TRIAL WAS SCHEDULED TO START. BUT IN THE END IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT A MINUTE FOR THE DEFENDANT TO DECIDE TO WAIVE HER RIGHT TO THIS DAY IN COURT. WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THESE CHARGES ARE. THIS TOUGH WORK IN THIS CASE IS BEING HELD IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE MOVED THIS CASE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADVANCE THIS ISSUE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUES IN THIS CASE. NICOLE VERSEY, 29, IS ACCUSED OF KILLING ONE BABY TWIN AND ATTACKING THE OTHER WHILE VISITING THE TWINS' PARENTS IN THE COUPLE'S ROW OF APARTMENTS IN PITTSBURGH'S SHADYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD LAST MONTH. THE PARENTS AND SEVERAL DOZENS OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS FILLED THE SMALL COURTROOM SO MUCH THAT THE TRIAL WAS MOVED TO A LARGER COURTROOM BEFORE VERSEY DECIDED TO LEAVE HER CASE BEFORE TRIAL. NOW, NONE OF THOSE PRESENT, EVEN THOSE WHO WERE SUPPORTING VERSEY, WERE WILLING TO SPEAK ON CAMERA. HER DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, DAVID SCHRAGER, HAS SPEAKED WITH US ABOUT THE DECISION NOT TO HEAR EVIDENCE OR TESTIMONY TODAY. THE CLIENT ALSO HAS RESPECT FOR THE PAIN. THE HEARTWRENCHING PAIN THAT THE FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH. THESE WERE HER FRIENDS. AND WHEN WE ANALYZE THE WHOLE CIRCUMSTANCES, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT TO THEM AND HAVE TO HEAR EVERYTHING. THAT WAS THE DECISION SHE MADE. AND WE RESPECT THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING FOR. VERSEY REMAINS HERE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY PRISON. HER FORMAL PRE-TRIAL HEARING IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 23RD. THEN THE CASE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A JUDGE AND SHE WILL OFFICIALLY ENTER HER PLEA, WHICH WILL BE A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY, ACCORDING TO THE LAWYER. LIVE REPORT FROM THE ALLEGHENY

Prosecutor seeks death penalty for San Diego woman accused in death of Shadyside infant

Updated: 1:20 p.m. EDT, August 24, 2024

Allegheny County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a San Diego woman accused of killing one baby twin and attacking the other while visiting the children's parents in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood in June.Video above: San Diego woman in court charged with killing Shadyside baby (from July)Court documents released Friday in the case against 30-year-old Nicole Virzi include a “statement of intent to seek the death penalty” from Stephen Zappala's office. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 has reached out to Zappala for comment. Virzi is charged with manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault following the death of 6-1/2-week-old Leon Kutz and the injury to his twin brother. Police say Virzi was babysitting the twins at the time of the alleged abuse.Virzi indicated online that she is in her fifth year of a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at the University of California, San Diego. Virzi waived a preliminary hearing in July and was formally arraigned on Friday. She remains in the Allegheny County Jail.

Allegheny County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a San Diego woman accused of killing one set of twin babies and attacking the other while visiting the children's parents in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood in June.

Video above: San Diego woman charged in court with killing of Shadyside baby (from July)

Court documents released Friday in the case against 30-year-old Nicole Virzi included a “statement of intent to seek the death penalty” from Stephen Zappala's office. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 has reached out to Zappala for comment.

Virzi is charged with manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault after 6-1/2-week-old Leon Kutz was killed and his twin brother injured. Police said Virzi was babysitting the twins at the time of the alleged abuse.

Virzi stated online that she was in her fifth year of her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of California, San Diego.

Virzi waived a preliminary hearing in July and was formally arraigned on Friday. She remains in the Allegheny County Jail.