Pietracatella ricin poisoning investigation continues

Investigations are ongoing into the deaths of Antonella Di Ielsi and her daughter Sara Di Vita, who died in late December 2025 after being poisoned by ricin in Pietracatella, Italy.

Authorities are exploring several leads. Gianni Di Vita, the husband of Antonella and father of Sara, reportedly admitted to an extramarital affair during questioning. Investigators are also examining a notebook from a personal computer belonging to a relative, as well as the theft of seven computers from a local high school in Casacalenda earlier this year.

Recent laboratory analyses conducted by the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin found no traces of ricin in the specific samples tested. However, experts noted that this does not rule out poisoning, as certain items consumed by the victims were not recovered. Specifically, mussels eaten during the holiday period were never sent for analysis, leaving a significant gap in the scientific evidence regarding the potential source of the toxin.