In brief
Italian authorities have launched a murder investigation after a mother and daughter died following a pre-Christmas meal, initially thought to be food poisoning. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of the deadly poison ricin, prompting further scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Italian prosecutors have opened a murder investigation following the deaths of a mother and her teenage daughter after a pre-Christmas meal last year. Sara Di Vita, 15, and her mother Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, fell ill after a lunch in their hometown of Pietracatella, located 260km (161 miles) south-east of Rome. Sara's father Gianni, the former mayor of Pietracatella, was also hospitalized but later recovered, while their eldest daughter was absent that day.Initially, doctors attributed symptoms to food poisoning, but subsequent laboratory tests revealed the presence of ricin, a highly toxic poison often derived from castor beans. Police have yet to identify any suspects even as inquiries have intensified.The couple's ailment was initially thought to stem from fish or mushrooms, leading to their discharge from the hospital. However, their conditions rapidly deteriorated, necessitating readmission. Dr. Vincenzo Cuzzone, head of the intensive care unit at Cardarelli hospital in Campobasso, reported the rapid onset of liver failure followed by multi-organ failure.The case has raised concerns about potential medical negligence, prompting investigations into the doctors who discharged them, who may now face charges of manslaughter. Ricin can cause rapid organ failure and is lethal in small doses, with no known antidote available.
