Ethan Katz, 31, and his wife, Savannah Roberts, 32, have been rebuilding their lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following the death of their newborn son, Leon, and injuries sustained by his six-week-old twin brother, Ari, in June 2024.
The couple have spent the past two years caring for their surviving child while preparing for the criminal proceedings against Nicole Virzi, a former friend accused of causing the twins’ injuries while babysitting them.
Recent photographs published by the Daily Mail showed the family spending time together at playgrounds, attending community activities and meeting friends near their home.
Roberts’ mother, Shelly Roberts, praised her daughter’s resilience, describing her as “a rock star” and “an incredible human being”.
The couple declined to comment when approached by the publication about Leon, their current family circumstances or the upcoming trial.
Family Moves to New Neighbourhood in Pittsburgh
Following the incident, the Katz family left their rented apartment in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighbourhood and moved to a residential area closer to parks and Carnegie Mellon University.
Their new home is a townhouse-style apartment in a quiet complex. The couple have enrolled Ari in a nearby preschool.
Roberts is continuing her PhD in clinical and developmental psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and completing a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at a psychiatric hospital.
Katz’s employment status was not clear from the report.
The family has also spent time with friends and other parents in their community. Last month, they hosted a playdate in their communal garden, where children gathered for pizza and activities, including a child-sized basketball hoop.
Roberts was later seen taking Ari to a playground and a family reading festival before reuniting with Katz at home.
Former Friend Faces Charges Over Twins’ Injuries
Nicole Virzi, 32, has pleaded not guilty to six charges involving criminal homicide, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Prosecutors allege that she attacked Leon and Ari while caring for them at the family’s Pittsburgh apartment in June 2024.
Virzi, the daughter of a New York cardiologist, was studying for a PhD in clinical psychology at the University of California, San Diego, and was weeks away from completing her degree at the time of the incident.
She had travelled to Pittsburgh during a break from her studies to meet the twins. Virzi and Roberts had become close friends while working as research coordinators in the graduate psychology department at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Virzi had been entrusted with babysitting the six-and-a-half-week-old boys on several occasions, according to the report.
Twins Taken to Hospital After Injuries Were Discovered
The case began on June 15, 2024, when Virzi reportedly told the parents she had discovered injuries to Ari’s genitals and blood in his diaper. She allegedly suggested that the injuries had occurred when the infant scratched himself against his car seat.
According to a police criminal complaint, Katz and Roberts took Ari to hospital at approximately 6.30pm. Medical staff found swelling, bruising and scratches to his penis.
Leon remained at the family’s apartment with Virzi while his parents sought treatment for his brother.
Virzi later called emergency services, telling police that she had fallen asleep and found Leon had fallen from his bouncer seat and struck his head, leaving him unconscious.
Leon was taken to hospital and pronounced dead in the early hours of June 16, which was both Katz’s first Father’s Day and the couple’s wedding anniversary.
An autopsy found that Leon had suffered a skull fracture and multiple brain bleeds. The injuries were attributed to blunt force trauma and were described as consistent with child abuse.
Virzi Arrested After Returning to Airbnb
Virzi returned to a nearby Airbnb after the incident and was arrested by police the following day.
She initially denied harming either child but later made a video-recorded statement during police questioning in which she admitted to actions involving Leon.
According to the account of her statement, Virzi said she had become angry about having to carry out babysitting duties during her holiday.
She told investigators that she had shaken Leon forcefully and dropped him several times. She also described hearing a crack and placing the infant upside down on a tiled bathroom floor.
In the recorded statement, Virzi said she had not intended to kill Leon and claimed she had wanted him to experience pain.
She also described having urges to hurt children from a young age and recounted incidents involving other children when she was younger.
Defence Challenges Admissibility of Confession
Virzi’s lawyers have disputed the circumstances in which the statement was obtained, arguing that it was involuntary.
They alleged that investigators manipulated their client during a 13-hour interrogation and said she was shackled to the floor, denied a phone call and forced to urinate in front of two police escorts.
The defence sought to have the confession excluded from evidence. However, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jill Rangos ruled in February that the jury could hear it.
The judge determined that Virzi’s statements had been made knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily.
Virzi continues to deny harming the twins and has maintained her not-guilty plea.
Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty
Prosecutors have indicated that they intend to seek the death penalty if the case proceeds to trial.
The district attorney’s office cited aggravating circumstances, including Leon’s young age and evidence prosecutors say indicates he was tortured.
Pennsylvania currently has a moratorium on executions, and the state’s Democratic governor has refused to approve death warrants. The state’s most recent execution took place in 1999.
Virzi’s defence attorney, Bill Difenderfer, previously told the Daily Mail that negotiations over a possible plea agreement were ongoing. He described the case as very serious and said Virzi remained in jail with the support of her family.
The publication said it had contacted Difenderfer and co-counsel Tina Miller for further comment.
Former Colleagues Describe Concerns About Virzi
Former colleagues and acquaintances of Virzi have previously spoken to the Daily Mail about their impressions of her behaviour.
Elin Lantz Lesser, who studied at Drexel alongside Virzi and Roberts, said she had sometimes felt she needed to be careful around Virzi, although she could not identify any specific negative incident.
Another former psychology student who knew Virzi from a different university said they had perceived what they described as underlying anger.
Virzi’s family has declined to comment publicly on the pending trial. Her father, Dr Peter Virzi, declined to speak to the Daily Mail, while her mother, Jennifer Graham, could not be reached for comment.
