Pittsburgh infant dies “as a result of child abuse;” babysitter from San Diego charged in killing

Woman Charged in Infant’s Death and Injuries to Twin Brother

A woman from San Diego, California, is facing multiple charges in connection with the death of an infant she was babysitting in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. The incident also resulted in injuries to the infant’s twin brother, according to the police.

Charges and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Criminal homicide
2. Three counts of aggravated assault
3. Two counts of endangering the welfare of children

This tragic incident highlights the importance of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations. These goals include:

• Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being – Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
• Goal 4: Quality Education – Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• Goal 5: Gender Equality – Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
• Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Details of the Incident

The police were initially called to the Shadyside home after 11 p.m. on Saturday following a report that a 1-month-old boy had fallen from his bassinet and had a bump on his head. The baby, identified as Leon Katz, was immediately taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

An autopsy revealed that the baby had suffered a severe skull fracture and multiple brain bleeds, leading to his death. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head, resulting from child abuse.

The baby’s twin brother was also examined and found to have scratches, bruising, swelling, and redness.

Statement from the Suspect

The suspect, Nicole Virzi, told investigators that she fell asleep while the deceased twin was in a bouncer seat. When she woke up, she discovered the baby on the floor and crying. Virzi immediately contacted the boy’s parents. However, she has been arrested and is currently in Allegheny County Jail.

Virzi’s attorney, David Shrager, stated that accidents can happen and emphasized the need to consider all the facts before jumping to conclusions about culpability.

Background Information

According to the criminal complaint, Virzi was babysitting Katz on Saturday night because his parents had to rush his twin brother to the hospital earlier that day. The twin brother had sustained an injury to his genital area while under Virzi’s care.

Shrager urged the public to wait for all the facts to emerge before making judgments about the incident.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the death of an infant and the injuries to his twin brother, which are related to the issues of child health and well-being (SDG 3). It also mentions an injury to the twin brother’s genital area, which raises concerns about gender equality (SDG 5) and the protection of children from abuse. Additionally, the article mentions criminal charges and the need for justice in response to the incident, connecting to SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.
• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres.
• SDG 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

The incident described in the article highlights the failure to prevent the death of the infant, indicating a need to address target 3.2 under SDG 3. The injuries to the twin brother also raise concerns about violence against children, which is relevant to target 5.2 under SDG 5. Furthermore, the criminal charges and investigation into the incident reflect the need to reduce violence and related death rates, aligning with target 16.1 under SDG 16.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age
• Number of reported cases of violence against women and girls
• Number of investigations and prosecutions related to violence against children

The article mentions the death of the infant due to blunt force trauma to the head, indicating a preventable death that can be measured. The injuries to the twin brother also imply violence against children, which can be measured through reported cases. The criminal charges and investigation into the incident demonstrate progress towards addressing violence against children.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com