[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CRIME]

3 clusters · 4 sources · 24 days · First seen · Last updated

Investigation into suspected serial ambulance deaths in Forl

Overview

Investigators in Forlì are examining Luca Spada, a former Red Cross ambulance driver accused of killing elderly patients during medical transports. The prosecution alleges a serial pattern involving at least six deaths between February and November 2025, suspected to have been caused by air injections resulting in gas embolisms.

Psychological specialists have described Spada’s behavior as being driven by an “obsessive and uncontrollable internal motivational impulse.” While Spada has maintained his innocence, claiming patients were already gravely ill, a judge denied his request for house arrest based on the investigation's findings.

Legal proceedings are moving forward, with Spada scheduled to face trial at the Forlì Court of Assizes starting October 15. The trial will focus on the death of 85-year-old Deanna Mambelli, whose autopsy confirmed her death was caused by the “exogenous introduction of air” via a peripheral venous catheter.

Authorities are expanding their investigation into the potential deaths of five other patients: Mirella Montanari, Francesco Mario Scavone, Edoarda Gasperini, Vincenzo Pesci, and Vittorio Benini. Carabinieri reports suggest Spada may have exhibited “predatory and serial” behavior. Additionally, investigators are examining a previous incident in which Spada himself was hospitalized for an embolism to determine if he may have induced his own condition.

Entities

Luca Spada · Deanna Mambelli · Racis · Forlì Court of Assizes · Carabinieri

Timeline

  1. about 14 hours ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Luca Spada faces trial for suspected serial killings in Italy

    Former Italian ambulance driver Luca Spada faces trial for the suspected murder of an 85-year-old woman via air embolism and is under investigation for five additional deaths.

  2. 3 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Luca Spada investigated for suspected serial killings in ambulances

    Former ambulance driver Luca Spada is under investigation in Forlì for the suspected serial killing of six elderly patients via air injections, with experts describing his motives as obsessive.

  3. 25 days ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Red Cross driver to face trial for suspected ambulance deaths

    Red Cross driver Luca Spada faces immediate trial in Forlì for the suspected homicide of 85-year-old Deanna Mambelli via gas embolism during ambulance transport.

Sources

blitzquotidiano.it · metronews.it · oglobo.globo.com · ultimosegundo.ig.com.br

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history