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Pietracatella Poisoning Probe Narrows to Two Female Relatives

Fresh searches for ricin traces will follow weeks of family interviews.

Overview

  • Investigators have cut the pool of suspects from four or five to two women who are closely related to the victims, according to investigative sources.
  • Police say the case centers on a family-related motive, and no arrests have been announced while the inquiry stays active.
  • Officers have questioned many relatives, including a third round with Antonella Di Ielsi’s father and brother, and they plan a fourth summons for cousin Laura Di Vita.
  • Investigators cite inconsistencies in Laura Di Vita’s prior statements, and a prosecutor, Elvira Antonelli, has been present for planned questioning.
  • Forensic work focuses on a suspected homemade poison derived from castor seeds, with planned house searches to look for ricin, a toxin that can be extracted from the plant common in the area.