A murder probe in Italy examines the deaths of two family members from ricin poisoning after a holiday meal.
Italian authorities have opened a murder investigation into the deaths of Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, and her daughter Sara Di Vita, 15, who fell ill after a family lunch in Pietracatella, a town 260km southeast of Rome.
The incident occurred during a pre-Christmas meal last year, where initial medical assessments attributed symptoms to food poisoning from fish or mushrooms, leading to the pair's brief discharge from the hospital.
Details of the Poisoning Emerge
Despite initial treatment, both women were readmitted when their conditions deteriorated rapidly, resulting in liver failure and multi-organ collapse, as reported by Dr. Vincenzo Cuzzone, head of the intensive care unit at Cardarelli hospital in Campobasso.
Laboratory tests, conducted in Italy and Switzerland, confirmed the presence of ricin, a highly toxic substance derived from castor beans, which caused the fatalities. Sara's father, Gianni Di Vita, the former mayor of Pietracatella, was also hospitalized but recovered fully.
The couple's eldest daughter was absent from the meal and unaffected. Doctors initially investigated medical negligence, leading to manslaughter probes against those who discharged the patients, according to Italian media reports.
Ricin poisoning has no known antidote and can lead to death from even small doses, highlighting the severity of the case. Police have not yet identified a suspect, with the inquiry focusing on how the toxin entered the food.
This tragedy has drawn attention to the dangers of such poisons, though no motive or perpetrators have been established in official statements from the investigation.
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