World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Police find castor plants near school in ricin poisoning investigation
Antonella Di Ielsi and her 15-year-old daughter, Sara, died after ricin poisoning in Pietracatella, in Italy’s Molise region, last December.
Police investigating the deaths found castor plants about 100 metres from a school in Casacalenda, where a cousin of Antonella’s husband teaches.
Investigators photographed the plants and reportedly collected samples after receiving tips.
They are also checking school computers for online searches about ricin and investigating computers stolen from the school.
Ricin is a highly toxic substance found in castor seeds, but no link has been established between the plants, stolen computers and the deaths.
Investigators are still trying to establish where the poison came from and who used it.
Police found castor plants near a school in Casacalenda as part of an investigation into the deaths of Antonella Di Ielsi and her 15-year-old daughter, Sara Di Vita.
The two died after being poisoned with ricin in Pietracatella, in Italy’s Molise region, last December.
Officers photographed plants about 100 metres from the school, and investigators reportedly collected vegetation samples nearby.
The school had also been checked for digital evidence of online searches about ricin, and one laptop’s data was copied.
Investigators have not established a link between the plants, stolen computers at the school and the poisonings.
- Who
- Police and investigators working on the poisonings of Antonella Di Ielsi and Sara Di Vita.
- What
- Police found castor plants near a school and examined the area. Investigators have not established a connection to the poisonings.
- When
- The deaths occurred last December. The date when the plants were found is not stated.
- Where
- Near a school in Casacalenda, Molise, about 20 kilometres from Pietracatella.
- Why
- Investigators are trying to establish where the ricin came from and who may have used it.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Antonella Di Ielsi and her daughter Sara Di Vita died after being poisoned with ricin in Pietracatella.
Police completed a series of four digital searches ordered by the Larino Prosecutor’s Office, including checks at the Casacalenda school.
Investigators checked for castor plants near the Casacalenda school and photographed some about 100 metres from it.
- Victims
- Antonella Di Ielsi and Sara Di Vita, aged 15
- Poison
- Ricin, a highly toxic substance found in castor seeds
- Plant location
- About 100 metres from a school in Casacalenda
- Distance
- Casacalenda is about 20 kilometres from Pietracatella
- Digital checks
- Four school computer searches ordered by the Larino Prosecutor’s Office
4 sources
Ricina, piante vicino alla scuola della cugina di Gianni Di Vita: il sopralluogo della polizia
Avvelenate ricina, piante trovate a pochi metri dal luogo di lavoro della cugina di Gianni Di Vita
Morte avvelenate con la ricina a Pietracatella, trovate piante vicino a scuole frequentate dai Di Vita
Ricina, ipotesi movente sentimentale? Gianni Di Vita ammette la relazione con una donna: il marito di lei incontrò Antonella Di Ielsi
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