The daughter of a prominent Manhattan cardiologist and researcher has been accused of murdering the young twin sons of one of her best friends.
Nicole Virge, a fifth-year doctoral student in the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, is also accused of physically abusing the dead baby’s twin sister, according to reports.
Authorities say Ethan Katz and his wife, Savannah Roberts, had a 6-week-old son, Leon Katz, who died on Father’s Day while Virge was caring for him at their Pittsburgh home.
Virgil and Roberts were doctoral students at different universities. Roberts studied at the University of Pittsburgh. — but both focused on eating disorders, trauma, and body image.
Authorities said the couple left Leon in Birge’s care while they rushed Ali to the hospital after Birge informed them that Ali had suffered an unknown injury to his genitals.
According to police and court records, first-time parents Birge claimed they were caring for Ali when Leon fell out of his bouncer chair while they left him to get a bottle.
However, doctors determined the injuries were “not natural or accidental and are consistent with injuries inflicted as a result of child abuse.” According to WTAE.
Virgi was described as a “trusted family friend.” GoFundMe It was established to help grieving parents and their surviving son.
Virgi was staying at a nearby Airbnb on South Graham Street in the hipster Shadyside neighborhood when she was asked to look after the baby, who was “conscious and uninjured.” According to the criminal complaint Obtained by TRIBLive in Pittsburgh.
It’s unclear why Virgi was in Pittsburgh, but there were signs online of a friendship between the two women.
Virzi’s X account is now secured and her messages are no longer accessible.
But Roberts has mentioned Virge at least twice: once in January 2022, when he mentioned Virge’s “great job,” and once in a May 2021 post to Virge, writing, “You’ll do a great job! Can’t wait to hear about your experience.”
According to the department’s criminal complaint, officers arrived at the Walnut Street home on June 15 at 11:17 p.m. after Virge called 911. Virge said the baby had hit his head.
According to the criminal complaint, Virge told police she began babysitting Leon around 6:30 p.m. that day and that Leon was in good spirits, had eaten, had soiled two diapers and had burped.
Virge claimed she had been asleep “for some time while Leon was in his bouncer seat.” She woke up and went to the kitchen to get Leon a bottle when she heard the baby crying.
Prosecutors said in court documents that Birge claimed he found Leon lying on the floor, picked him up and saw “a large lump on the left side of Leon’s head.”
Paramedics rushed Leong to hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 5:47 a.m. on Father’s Day, police said.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide. Leon’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
A CT scan of the head revealed that Leon had suffered a severe skull fracture on the left side of his head as well as multiple cerebral bleeds.
Virge, a graduate of Pepperdine University and earning a master’s degree in clinical psychology from San Diego State University, grew up in the tri-state area. Dr. Peter J. Virge He is a highly respected cardiologist at Mount Sinai Doctors in Manhattan.
“I’m speechless,” a friend and colleague of Virgi’s told The Post on Saturday. “It’s just a complete shock. I had no idea.”
The friend said he did not know Virgi as violent, but noted she “had relationship issues. I think she was a bit stubborn. She was a kind person. But she was very driven and motivated.”
A man who identified himself as the suspect’s father hung up the phone when contacted by The Post.
Virge was indicted on June 16 on murder, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Virge is currently being held without bail in the Allegheny County Jail.
Virge’s lawyer, David Schrager, told The Washington Post on Saturday that his client is innocent and plans to plead not guilty.
“She is obviously devastated,” Schrager said. “She is extremely distraught and deeply saddened. She says she did not do it intentionally. We are conducting a thorough investigation. She has no criminal history. We will do everything we can to give her a fair hearing in court. This is a case where a child has died and a young woman is in prison. We should not speculate before it goes to trial.”
Virgi’s biography states, “Her research aims to explore the complex interactions between psychological factors such as depression, stress, negative emotions and trauma, and significant health outcomes and behaviors, including metabolic syndrome, heart disease, obesity, eating behaviors and exercise.”
“I am particularly interested in exploring these relationships among women and those who have experienced trauma,” she added. “By focusing on these relationships, my research aims to illuminate the unique challenges and opportunities for interventions within these vulnerable groups.”
She was also reportedly an instructor at Cycle Bar Carmel Valley in San Diego.
Roberts declined to comment.
