Child abuse and homicide investigations in Italy

Authorities in Italy have conducted separate investigations involving the abuse and death of minors in different regions.

In Tortora, Calabria, a woman and her partner were arrested following an investigation into the severe abuse of a minor daughter. The Scalea Carabinieri reported that the suspects allegedly used alcohol and drugs to incapacitate the girl. Charges include sexual violence, family maltreatment, and the production of child pornography. A judge in Catanzaro ordered the suspects to be held in custody while digital devices undergo forensic analysis.

In Tortona, a three-year-old girl, identified as Alessandra Lucia, was found dead in a social housing apartment on the night of October 22-23, 2026. Preliminary investigations suggest the child may have been killed with a kitchen knife. The mother, a 30-year-old Russian national, was arrested and placed in custody at the Vercelli prison.

The family had been under the supervision of social services (CISA) due to a highly conflictual separation from the child’s father, an Italian citizen. While the mother had previously filed reports of domestic violence against her ex-partner, investigators believe the tragedy may be linked to recent legal developments regarding the father’s reunification with the child, though the exact motive remains under investigation.

Following the incident in Tortona, investigators reported that the mother attempted to take her own life and contacted emergency services after the child was fatally stabbed. A handwritten note in Russian was recovered at the scene. During a validation hearing, the suspect declined to answer questions from Judge Riccardo Ghio. Her defense attorney stated the woman is currently not in the “psychophysical condition to undergo interrogation,” citing extreme isolation, despair, and shock.