Pietracatella ricin poisoning investigation: 131 items seized

Investigators in the ricin poisoning case in Pietracatella, Italy, have seized 131 items of evidence in an attempt to solve the deaths of Antonella Di Ielsi and her daughter, Sara Di Vita. The two women died shortly after Christmas 2025 after being poisoned by ricin, a case that has transitioned from a suspected medical error to a double homicide investigation.

The seized evidence includes various household and medical items from the family apartment, such as a container with medical liquid, needles, cannulas, bread residues, a vacuum cleaner filter, and a plastic bag labeled ‘Monique’. Authorities are also examining the office of Gianni Di Vita, an accountant and former mayor, to clarify discrepancies in witness statements.

While the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin conducted examinations, prosecutor Elvira Antonelli noted that experts have not yet definitively resolved the mystery. Although medical records indicated high bilirubin levels for the victims and Gianni Di Vita prior to the deaths, recent tests on the father and daughter did not show evidence of toxin exposure.