Overview
- Two hikers found a skull fragment, a bra and what appeared to be hair on January 1 inside the Torre Pignone near Vitriola di Montefiorino.
- The items were sent to Milan, where anatomopathologist Cristina Cattaneo’s lab matched DNA to Ruggi using samples from her belongings and her mother, and relatives were formally notified.
- Local reports note the tower had been inspected multiple times by the Carabinieri, prompting inquiries into whether the remains were placed there after earlier searches.
- The Modena prosecutor is treating homicide as a main line of inquiry, and reporting indicates a case for murder against unknown persons may have been opened.
- Domenico Lanza remains the only named person under investigation, denies involvement, and recently returned to his home after a dissequestration linked to a separate weapons case.