Denise Pipitone case: DNA sample taken from young woman in Rome

Investigators have taken a DNA sample from a 20-year-old woman in Rome as part of the ongoing search for Denise Pipitone, who disappeared from Mazara del Vallo in 2004. The young woman, born in Bosnia in 2002, was approached by Carabinieri during a check in a suburban neighborhood to provide a saliva sample for genetic comparison.

The woman stated she was unaware of the connection to the case, noting that authorities showed her a photo of a man and his daughter but she did not recognize them. While her birth year is close to that of Denise Pipitone, the parents, Piera Maggio and Pietro Pulizzi, expressed caution regarding the development. In a social media post, they stated they were not previously informed of this specific lead and are waiting for concrete news while remaining realistic about the situation.

This development comes as the case remains a significant point of public interest in Italy. A documentary special titled ‘Troviamo Denise – Storia di una bambina scomparsa’ is scheduled to air on Sky Documentaries to mark what would have been Denise's 26th birthday.