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1. Tristan Jeong & Becky Song Tristan Jeong and Becky Song

2. Case Background • This unsolved case began in August 1968, when Barbara Locci was found murdered with her lover in a cemetery. The murders that occurred from 1968 to 1985 had a pattern; the unknown serial killer specifically targeted couples. The serial killer killed 16 people in total. All the murders occurred in the province of Florence, Italy, hence giving the killer the epithet of Monster of Florence. In 2008, Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi, the authors of the The Monster of Florence, accused Antonio Vinci as the real killer; Antonio Vinci denied the accusation in a Dateline NBC interview.

3. Major Players • Chief Inspector Maurizio Cimmino, head of the Florentine police’s mobile squad. • Chief Inspector Sandro Federico, police homicide detective. • Stefano Mele, PietroPacciani, Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti, four falsely accused, arrested and convicted suspects • Barbara Locci, first victim; wife of Stefano Mele, murdered with her lover • Antonio Vinci, accused as killer in 2008- denied the accusation

4. Who, What, When, Where, Why • Who- Unknown • What- 16 murders; targeted couples specifically • When- From 1968 to 1985 • Where- The province of Florence, Italy • Why- Motive unknown Florence, Italy

5. Crime • The serial killer killed 16 people, with the same pattern. The killer shot the couple to death in very quiet, solitary places such as country lanes or parks. After shooting the couples to death, the killer stabbed them and cut out the females’ pubic area. Ethnicities of victims were mostly Italian, but there were two German victims, Horst Wilhelm Meyer and Jens UweRüsch. The killer made the victims feel weird sensation, thus terrifying the victims before the actual murders. StefaniaPettini crime scene Foggi crime scene

6. Suspects • There were many suspects • The most important four: • Stefano Mele-  immigrant from Sardinia, who confessed to murdering his wife and her lover on August 21, 1968 • PietroPacciani- Tuscan farmer who was convicted of being the Monster, acquitted on appeal, and then ordered to restand trial. He was the alleged leader of the so-called compagni di merende, the “picnicking friends.” • Mario Vanni- nicknamed ilTorsolo (Apple Core), the former postman of San Casciano, convicted of being Pacciani’s accomplice in the Monster killings. • Giancarlo Lotti- aka Beta; falsely confessed having helped Pacciani with several of the Monster’s killings. Stefano Mele Police Sketch of Monster of Florence

7. Evidence trail/ progression • All of the 16 murders had same pattern • Shot to death • Gun-.22 Berettas • Stabbed • Female’s pubic area cut out .22 Beretta

8. Trial • The four primary suspects, Stefano Mele, PietroPacciani, Giancarlo Lotti and Mario Vanni had to go through trial • Pacciani’s trial- November 1st , 1994 • Lotti and Vanni’s trial (as accomplices of Pacciani)- May 21st , 1997 PietroPacciani in court just prior to his release PietroPacciani on trial

9. Verdict/ Sentence • All declared guilty • All four convicted • Stefano Mele- 14 years • PietroPacciani- Life sentence • Mario Vanni- Life sentence • Giancarlo Lotti- 26 years

10. Unanswered Questions • The real perpetrator is still unknown • Many accusations and suspects, but they led the case to nowhere • The motive of murders is still unknown

11. Bibliography • "Monster of Florence." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. • Preston, Douglas. "Monster Of Florence: A True Story by Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi » Timeline." Monster Of Florence A True Story by Douglas Preston Mario Spezi RSS. Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. • "The Monster of Florence." — The Mystery Begins — Crime Library on TruTV.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013.