started · updated
San Cataldo: Two sisters found safe in clothing store after 21-hour disappearance
Two sisters, aged 8 and 12, have been found safe after disappearing in San Cataldo, Caltanissetta, on the evening of Friday, September 18. The children, Benedetta and Domitilla Costanza, were located on Saturday afternoon inside a clothing store managed by Chinese nationals on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, near their home.
The discovery was made by Civil Protection volunteers following a massive search operation involving the Carabinieri, police, and firefighters. Upon being found, the girls reportedly told rescuers, ‘They brought us here,’ raising questions about how they entered the closed premises and whether they were moved there by someone else.
Authorities have seized the clothing store to conduct technical-scientific investigations. The Prosecutor of Caltanissetta, Salvatore De Luca, has ordered further inquiries to determine if the disappearance was a voluntary departure or involves criminal responsibility, such as kidnapping. The Carabinieri are also reviewing local surveillance footage.
The father, Alessandro Costanza, reported the disappearance on Saturday morning after realizing the children did not return home when he went to buy bread. Investigators have questioned the father extensively. Reports also indicate that the parents had been previously investigated for alleged child maltreatment in 2023, though the children have been in the father's care since 2024.
Entities
Alessandro Costanza · Benedetta Costanza · Cagliari · Caltanissetta · Carabinieri · Domitilla Costanza · Protezione Civile · Salvatore De Luca · San Cataldo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The father last saw the children around 20:00 on Friday, September 18, before leaving to buy bread. cefalunews.org · www.sicilianews.it · www.liberoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The children told rescuers, 'They brought us here,' regarding their presence in the shop. cefalunews.org · www.grandangoloagrigento.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Authorities seized the clothing shop in Corso Vittorio Emanuele where the children were found. mail.we-news.com · www.persemprenews.it · www.lastampa.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Prosecutor of Caltanissetta ordered technical-scientific investigations to clarify the circumstances of the disappearance. www.grandangoloagrigento.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Civil Protection volunteers located the two sisters in the shop following a tip from a woman. cefalunews.org · www.persemprenews.it · ilsicilia.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from the area to reconstruct the children's movements. cefalunews.org · www.persemprenews.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The parents were previously reported in 2023 for alleged child maltreatment. www.blogsicilia.it · www.secoloditalia.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The children, aged 8 and 12, were found in good health after being missing for approximately 21 hours. cefalunews.org · www.persemprenews.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The children were found around 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 19. cefalunews.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Carabinieri have seized the clothing store where the children were found. mail.we-news.com · www.persemprenews.it · www.lastampa.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] The father stated he left the children alone for approximately ten minutes to buy bread. cefalunews.org · www.sicilianews.it · www.affaritaliani.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The parents were reportedly previously reported for alleged child maltreatment in 2023. www.blogsicilia.it · www.lastampa.it