Italian sports journalist Luca Esposito found murdered and burned in Salerno province
The charred body of 53‑year‑old sports journalist Luigi “Luca” Esposito was discovered by firefighters in a remote field near Eboli, Salerno, on 19 July 2026. Initial reports of a gunshot have been discarded; an autopsy revealed multiple fractures consistent with a violent beating and no bullet wounds. Investigators are still determining whether he was still alive when the fire was set, with forensic toxicology and histology tests expected to take up to two months.
The Salerno prosecutor’s office, led by anti‑mafia chief Raffaele Cantone, is treating the case as murder. Key evidence includes Esposito’s car keys found near the body, his missing mobile phone, and CCTV footage showing him arriving at the site around 23:00, possibly to meet someone. Carabinieri divers are searching a nearby watercourse for the weapon used in the assault, while further DNA and genetic analyses are pending. Authorities have ruled out a link to his journalism work, focusing instead on personal motives.