Overview
- Toxicology tests Wednesday identified traces of ricin in Antonella Di Ielsi and her daughter Sara, including a hair sample, after analyses by the Maugeri poison center in Pavia and a Swiss lab.
- The Larino prosecutor’s office opened a criminal case for premeditated double murder against unknown suspects, shifting the inquiry from suspected food poisoning.
- Investigators treat the Pietracatella home as the likely scene and plan targeted forensic sweeps to find residue on kitchenware, containers, and surfaces.
- Detectives are mapping possible procurement routes for the rare toxin, exploring dark‑web sourcing and reviewing comparable cases flagged abroad.
- Results for the surviving husband are disputed, with Rome’s Spallanzani reporting no ricin and samples now set for re‑analysis, while a separate case against five ER doctors is being reconsidered in light of the poisoning finding.