UC San Diego student takes plea deal in newborns death, admits terrifying urge to murder babies

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.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story “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 b...