Campobasso ricin poisoning case under investigation

Mother Antonella Di Ielsi and her daughter Sara Di Vita died in December 2025 from acute ricin poisoning after being treated at the Cardarelli Hospital in Campobasso. Chief Prosecutor Elvia Antonelli of Larino, overseeing the dual homicide file, reported that a 900‑page medico‑legal autopsy report has been filed and that five medical staff members are under investigation for possible responsibility.

International experts from Germany's Robert Koch Institute have been dispatched to cooperate with Italian investigators. They will conduct a second on‑site search of the Di Vita family home in Pietracatella and perform advanced analyses of previously collected evidence. Additional blood tests are also being carried out on the victims' relatives, Gianni and Alice Di Vita, to detect possible ricin antibodies. The investigation remains ongoing with no definitive conclusions yet.