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Dieciséis víctimas y un enigma escalofriante: la historia del Monstruo de Florencia, el asesino que sembró el terror en Italia
Entre 1968 y 1985, la ciudad italiana de Florencia fue el escenario de una serie de asesinatos que conmocionaron al país y que desconcertó por completo a los investigadores que seguían el caso.
Las víctimas siempre eran parejas jóvenes que buscaban privacidad en los alrededores del centro. Todos siempre aparecían muertos, con heridas de arma de fuego y signos de mutilación.
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El apodado Monstruo de Florencia fue uno de los asesinos seriales más buscados con cientos de pistas que solo llevaron a callejones sin salida. A pesar de que hubo un centenar de sospechosos y múltiples teorías, nunca se llegó a comprobar judicialmente quién fue el autor de los 16 crímenes y el misterio aún rodea al caso.
16 víctimas y un enigma sin resolver
El primer crimen que se le atribuye se produjo el 21 de agosto de 1968 en Signa, una localidad cercana a Florencia. Ocurrió durante la noche cuando Antonio Lo Bianco y Barbara Locci, dos amantes que se habían encontrado a escondidas, fueron encontrados muertos dentro de un auto en unas colinas. Ambos presentaban heridas de bala de una pistola Beretta calibre 22.
El único sobreviviente fue el hijo de Locci, Natalino Mele, que tenía seis años y se había quedado dormido en el asiento trasero del vehículo. Antonio Lo Bianco y Barbara Locci, las primeras víctimas del «Monstruo de Florencia». (Foto: archivo de historia de Florencia)
En un principio, la policía tuvo como principal sospechoso al esposo de Locci, Stefano Mele, ya que estaba la hipótesis de que los había asesinado luego de descubrir la infidelidad de Barbara. Tras la detención de Mele, él confesó que los había matado por celos y fue condenado.
Sin embargo, años después, cuando comenzaron a descubrir nuevos homicidios con el mismo tipo de arma y modus operandi, los investigadores comenzaron a dudar. De esta manera, el caso de 1968 que había sido cerrado fue reabierto.
El segundo doble asesinato ocurrió el 15 de septiembre de 1974 en Borgo San Lorenzo, que tuvo como víctimas a Pasquale Gentilcore y Stefania Pettini. Los siguientes fueron Giovanni Foggi y Carmela Di Nuccio el 6 de junio de 1981 en Vía dell’Arrigo; Stefano Baldi y Susanna Cambi el 6 de octubre de 1981 en Campos de Bartoline; Paolo Mainardi y Antonella Migliorini el 19 de junio de 1982 en Montespertoli; Horst Meyer y Uwe Rush el 9 de septiembre de 1983 en Giogoli; Claudio Stefanacci y Pia Rontini el 29 de julio de 1984 en Vicchio; y por últimos Nadie Mauriot y Jean Michel Kravechvilj el 8 de septiembre de 1985 en Scopeti.
Los crímenes siguieron un patrón casi idéntico: las víctimas siempre eran parejas que llegaban a zonas alejadas para acampar o pasar el rato para tener intimidad, en donde el “Monstruo de Florencia” los atacaba de noche y les disparaba. Además, en algunos casos, llegó a mutilar los genitales de los cuerpos de las mujeres.
Los investigadores nunca pudieron comprobar la identidad del «Monstruo de Florencia». (Foto: La Repubblica)
El enigma detrás de la identidad del “Monstruo de Florencia” provocó una enorme presión sobre los investigadores, ya que cada doble homicidio generaba una ola de pánico en la ciudad. Sin embargo, el caso se caracterizó por las rivalidades internas entre fiscales, jueces y agentes policiales.
Entre las teorías que se manejaron, la más destacada surgió en los años 80 con la del “asesino solitario”. Según esta línea, se creía que el autor era un hombre obsesionado con castigar a las mujeres debido a un trauma emocional.
Pero también se sumaron versiones más complejas, como la de una “red satánica” que llevaba a cabo rituales con sangre y órganos sexuales femeninos.
De esta manera, la investigación llevó a indagar a varios sospechosos con diferentes perfiles, como médicos, artistas e incluso a funcionarios judiciales. Esto terminó generando un clima de sospecha generalizada en la sociedad. Pese a los esfuerzos, los policías no lograron tener pruebas contundentes que sostengan estas hipótesis.
Pietro Pacciani, el principal sospechoso
Después de 25 años de investigación, la fiscalía apuntó contra un nuevo sospechoso. Se trataba de Pietro Pacciani, un agricultor de 68 años con antecedentes por homicidio y violencia sexual, que vivía en la zona rural de Mercatale Val di Pesa, cerca de varios de los lugares en donde se cometieron los crímenes.
En 1994, Pacciani fue detenido acusado de ser el autor material de siete de los ocho doble homicidios. A su vez, se lo señaló por tener dos cómplices, Mario Vanni y Giancarlo Lotti, junto a quienes habría formado un grupo que mataban parejas por placer y dinero.
Pietro Pacciani fue detenido en 1994 acusado de ser el autor material de siete de los ocho doble asesinatos que se investigaron. (Foto: Corriere della Sera)
El juicio contra Pacciani fue uno de los más mediáticos de Italia, ya que ese mismo año fue condenado a catorce cadenas perpetuas por los asesinatos. Sin embargo, en 1996, fue absuelto ya que la defensa demostró que hubo múltiples irregularidades durante el proceso judicial y se ordenó un nuevo juicio.
A pesar de ello, antes de que comenzaran las audiencias, Pietro fue encontrado muerto en su casa en febrero de 1998. En un principio se creyó que había fallecido a causa de un paro cardíaco, pero luego en la autopsia se constató que perdió la vida luego de ingerir una gran cantidad de medicamentos. De esta forma, nunca cumplió una sentencia firme por los hechos imputados.
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Años después, Vanni y Lotti confesaron haber participado en algunos de los crímenes, aunque sus testimonios fueron contradictorios y habían muchas inconsistencias. Ambos fueron condenados a cadena perpetua, pero aún así quedaron muchos puntos sin resolver.
En la actualidad, el expediente del caso del “Monstruo de Florencia” sigue abierto. En 2021, la fiscalía italiana anunció una nueva revisión de pruebas de ADN que se hallaron en las escenas de los homicidios, pero hasta el momento no se encontró nada concluyente.
Italia, asesino serial
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FIRST ON FOX: A new report is raising concerns about Turkey’s role in the Middle East, arguing that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country has moved away from its traditional Western alignment and toward deeper engagement with Islamist movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies report, led by senior fellow Sinan Ciddi and titled «Islamist Domination of Turkey: A Forward Base for Muslim Brotherhood-Aligned Jihadism,» argues that Turkey has ties to Hamas — the U.S.-designated terrorist group responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre — as well as to the Muslim Brotherhood — an Islamist movement whose affiliates have recently been designated as terrorist organizations by the United States — placing Turkey’s policies under renewed scrutiny as it prepares to host a NATO summit.
Ciddi told Fox News Digital the shift reflects a broader transformation in how Turkey defines threats.
«What we have is Turkey has completely rewritten the rules of how you interpret what a jihadist terrorist entity may be,» Ciddi said. «Erdoğan has reinvented what is interpreted as a terrorist entity … groups such as Hamas or al-Nusra fall into line with his pan-Islamist view of the world.»
EXPERT WARNS RADICAL ISLAMIST NETWORKS COULD SHIFT WEST AFTER IRAN REGIME SHAKEUP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and then-Chairman of Hamas Khaled Mashal (L) shake hands at the Historical Mabeyn Palace in Istanbul, Turkey on June 24, 2016. (Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Hamas presence draws scrutiny
A central focus of the report is Turkey’s relationship with Hamas, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization, and yet Hamas expanded its presence in Turkey after 2011, establishing offices and networks inside the country.
«From 2011 onward … Hamas used this opportunity inside of Turkey with a friendly government to establish offices, engage in recruitment (and) fundraising,» Ciddi said.
U.S. authorities have taken action against some of those networks. The Treasury Department has designated Hamas-linked individuals and entities operating in Turkey, a point Ciddi said underscores longstanding concerns.
«The United States Treasury has been tracking and designating Hamas-affiliated NGOs and individuals inside of Turkey,» he said.
The report also alleges that some Hamas operatives have been able to travel using Turkish-issued documents and that senior figures have been publicly received by Erdoğan.
Beyond Hamas, the report describes Turkey as a hub for Muslim Brotherhood figures from across the region, including Egypt and Yemen, many of whom relocated there following crackdowns in their home countries.
Across parts of the Arab world, the Muslim Brotherhood has been banned or restricted for years.
Egypt outlawed the movement in 2013, accusing it of inciting unrest and undermining state institutions. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates later designated it a terrorist organization, describing it as a threat to national stability, while Bahrain adopted a similar stance.
Jordan dissolved its local chapter this year following arrests authorities said were linked to illicit weapons activity.
Some European countries also have taken steps targeting networks linked to the movement.
Austria, for example, has pursued legal action against individuals and organizations it says are connected to Brotherhood-linked activity as part of its counter-extremism policies.
Officials in these countries have argued that the Brotherhood operates through a mix of religious outreach, political activism, charitable organizations and media platforms to influence public opinion and challenge state authority.
ISRAEL SHUTS DOOR ON TURKEY IN GAZA AS TRUMP PRAISES ERDOGAN, PLAYS DOWN CLASH
People protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza during a protest rally in Istanbul, Turkey, on Feb. 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (Khalil Hamra/The Associated Press )
Syria policy and sanctions questions
The report also examines Turkey’s role in Syria, where the country backed opposition forces during the civil war, supporting a range of armed factions, including groups that later formed the Syrian National Army.
«The Syrian National Army … was a hodgepodge collection of militias that Turkey directly armed, paid and organized,» he said.
The report links Turkish support to groups such as al-Nusra and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, raising questions among analysts about whether such ties could expose Turkish officials to potential sanctions under U.S. law.
TRUMP FACES MIDDLE EAST TEST AS NETANYAHU BALKS AT ERDOGAN’S GAZA TROOP HOPES
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) delivers remarks during a meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
A balancing act with Washington
Despite these concerns, other analysts say Turkey’s relationship with the United States continues to act as a constraint on its behavior, while the relationship between Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been characterized by renewed trust, with Trump praising Erdoğan’s role in Gaza diplomacy.
As Trump celebrated the Gaza ceasefire agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in October 2025, he singled out one leader for extraordinary praise — Erdoğan, whose leadership he credited for helping deliver the Gaza ceasefire.
«A guy who’s been a friend of mine for a long time. I don’t know why I like the tough people better than the soft, easy ones,» Trump said about Erdoğan at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in October 2025. «This gentleman from a place called Turkey is one of the most powerful in the world … He’s a tough cookie — but he’s my friend.»
Hişyar Özsoy, a Turkish politician and academic, described the relationship between Erdoğan and Trump as «transactional,» noting Washington often relies on Turkey for regional coordination.
In a policy webinar hosted by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, Turkish academic Hüseyin Bağcı emphasized that Ankara remains closely tied to Washington.
«The Turkish state is not interested in fighting with Israel because the Turkish government has very good relations with (the) United States of America,» he said. «You cannot be good with America and then be in conflict with Israel.»
Bağcı also suggested Turkey has at times limited Islamist actors domestically.
«Today do you hear anything about» the Muslim Brotherhood, he said. «No … because the president said stop.»
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, left, shakes hands with Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, right, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg looks on prior to a meeting ahead of a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, July 10, 2023. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)
NATO ally under pressure
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, remains a key partner for the United States, providing logistical access, military capabilities and diplomatic reach.
But Ciddi argued Turkey’s current trajectory increasingly diverges from alliance priorities.
«There is an established track record … where Turkey significantly undermines the transatlantic alliance’s core security concerns,» he said.
He pointed to U.S. sanctions on Turkish entities accused of supplying dual-use goods to Russia, as well as Ankara’s broader strategy of maintaining ties with competing powers.
Iran and regional positioning
As far as Turkey’s positioning itself amid tensions with Iran, Ciddi said Turkey is likely to favor a weakened Iranian regime rather than a complete collapse that could produce a more pro-Western government.
«A weakened Iranian regime is Erdoğan’s safest bet,» he said.
Bağcı offered a similar assessment of the rivalry.
«Iran is not an enemy of Turkey, but not necessarily its best friend. Turkey and Iran are two regional competitors,» he said.
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In this May 30, 2015, file photo, supporters of Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and prime minister and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Ahmet Davutoglu, some holding Turkish flags, wait for their appearance in Istanbul during a rally to commemorate the anniversary of the city’s conquest by the Ottoman Turks. As extremist violence and political uncertainty cast a shadow over Turkey, voters are looking for the parliamentary election to usher in stability. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Looking ahead
The report recommends potential U.S. policy responses, including sanctions and increased scrutiny of Turkey’s financial system, steps that could reshape relations between Washington and Ankara.
Fox News Digital reached out multiple times to the Turkish government and to the State Department for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
war with iran, turkey, nato, europe, terrorism, syria
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President Donald Trump goes before the nation in prime time on Wednesday evening to deliver what the White House says is «an important update» on the war with Iran.
The president’s address comes amid the month-long attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, which polls indicate are unpopular with many Americans, and a surge in gas prices as a direct result of the fighting have triggered a further slide in Trump’s standing in public opinion surveys.
The political implications are clear: The strikes on Iran and the erosion of the president’s approval ratings are warning signs for the GOP as Republicans ramp up to defend their slim House and Senate majorities in this autumn’s midterm elections.
Trump stood at 41% approval and 59% disapproval in the latest Fox News national poll, which was conducted March 20–23. The president’s negative 18-point margin was up from 14 points in the previous Fox News poll, which was conducted Feb. 28–March 2, as the strikes against Iran began.
FOX NEWS LIVE UPDATES ON THE U.S. WAR WITH IRAN
The president’s approval ratings stood in the upper 30s, with his disapproval in the upper 50s to low 60s, in the most recent national surveys from Reuters/Ipsos, AP/NORC, and Quinnipiac University. A CNN poll conducted March 26–30 and released Wednesday indicated Trump had a 35%-64% approval/disapproval rating.
An average of the most recent national surveys gauging the president’s standing puts Trump just above 40%, with his disapproval in the upper 50s.
WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL SHOWS ON THE WAR WITH IRAN
While Trump’s base remains extremely supportive of the president and the war, much of the slippage is coming from within the GOP, specifically those who are considered non-MAGA Republicans.
«I do see in the last couple of surveys an edging down…close to a double-digit movement,» veteran Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps run the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson, said, pointing to declining support for Trump among non-MAGA Republicans.
A screen grab from a video released on U.S. President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account shows Donald Trump making statements regarding combat operations on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. (US President Trump Via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Fueling Trump’s decline appears to be the surge in gas prices.
The average price of gasoline in the U.S. topped $4 per gallon on Tuesday, according to national averages from AAA and GasBuddy, for the first time in four years.
FOX BUSINESS: GAS PRICES TOP $4 PER GALLON
The military attacks by the U.S. and Israel have resulted in the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials, and the decimation of the country’s military.
In response, Iran has targeted energy facilities with missile and drone attacks in a number of Persian Gulf nations. It has also made the Strait of Hormuz nearly impassable to commercial shipping, bringing roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply to a halt and sending global fuel prices sharply higher.
A gas station displays a sign for $3.999 for regular gasoline, in Cleveland, Monday, March 30, 2026. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)
That has only exacerbated Trump’s polling woes when it comes to his performance on the economy, amid public dissatisfaction with high prices and the cost of living.
A spotlight on inflation helped fuel sweeping victories by Trump and Republicans in the 2024 elections, when they won back the White House and Senate and successfully defended their slim House majority.
DEMOCRATS TARGET TRUMP, GOP, OVER SURING GAS PRICES
But a laser focus on affordability by Democrats, amid persistent inflation, has fueled a slew of victories and overperformances in 2025’s off-year elections and in special elections in the more than 14 months since Trump returned to the White House.
According to the Fox News poll, 80% of respondents said they were concerned about gas prices, and 86% concerned about inflation and high prices. And the CNN survey spotlighted that the president’s approval rating for handling the economy sank to 31%, Trump’s lowest level ever in their polling.
The White House says the surge in prices is temporary.
«When Operation Epic Fury is complete, gas prices will plummet back to the multiyear lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions,» White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Tuesday.
Leavitt emphasized that «President Trump remains committed to fully unleashing American energy dominance, lowering costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families.»
OIL HAS SURGED SINCE THE IRAN CONFLICT BEGAN, BUT GAS PRICES MAY NOT BE DONE RISING
The gas price surge is giving Democrats more political ammunition to target the GOP.
«BREAKING: National Gas Prices Skyrocket to $4 Per Gallon,» read the headline from an email Tuesday morning from the Democratic National Committee.
The House Democrats’ campaign committee last week launched digital ads showing prices at the pump rising and an image saying «D.C. Republicans Did That!» Sources say to expect another round of ads on gas prices in the coming weeks.
But Democrats have their own polling problems, as the party’s brand image has cratered to historic lows in a slew of polls over the past year.
Shaw, pointing to the so-called double-haters, voters who disapprove of both Trump and the Democrats, said that group hasn’t «really swung dramatically to the Democrats» as the midterms approach.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas emphasized in a recent Fox News Digital interview that, in his opinion, Trump’s «decision to launch this military action is the most consequential decision» of his presidency.
Such perceptions only increase what’s at stake when Trump addresses the nation in prime time.
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«The American people want to hear what the off-ramp for the war is and when it will end,» Dan Eberhart, an oil drilling chief executive officer and prominent Republican donor told Fox News Digital.
Eberhart, who is supportive of the president, said: «Trump’s base is with him, but many ordinary Americans feel the war is unnecessary. Tonight is Trump’s opportunity to explain why this war matters to everyday Americans.»
donald trump, war with iran, iran, polls, midterm elections, inflation, politics
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