Cold cases from the 1970s: Attorney Biscotti on evidence and DNA. A hotline for tips
AttorneyValter Biscotti is one of Italy’s leading criminal defense lawyers. The 61-year-old lawyer has handled, in no particular order, the Kercher, Parolisi, and Scazzi cases, as well as the Olgiata murder and the Pecorelli murder; he served as a civil party in the trial against the last Red Brigades. Now there is this new, enormous challenge, rooted in a distant, tragic Milan, torn apart by terrorism, kidnappings, and the war of organized crime. And by the cold cases of eight women (a number that may still be incomplete) murdered without the killer ever being found. A killer who, according to the reconstruction by the team of criminologists led by Franco Posa, may have been a single individual. Thus, a serial killer who, based on analyses by sophisticated American software, may live or have lived in a specific area of the city—a triangle bounded by Via Filzi, Piazza Cordusio, and Via Pace.
“Counselor, hasn’t too much time passed? The first murders we’re investigating—those of the prostitutes Olimpia Drusin and Elisa Casarotto—took place in 1963 and 1964.”
“Certainly, time is not on our side. However, the insight offered by Dr. Posa and his colleagues must be thoroughly examined. A joint review of the trial records could be the key to uncovering new pieces of the truth and launching new investigations.”
But is it possible that, at the time, no one suspected a common perpetrator behind the murders—at least to explore that lead as well? Or perhaps the hypothetical figure of a serial killer was indeed at the center of the reasoning of magistrates, Carabinieri, and police officers, but, let’s say, not officially. Or maybe, at the time, the city was going through such a turbulent period that there simply wasn’t enough time to investigate every murdered woman?
“Look, up until the 1960s, crime news filled the court columns with famous cases and criminal trials that ‘captivated’ the entire public. From the Piazza Fontana massacre onward, and especially in Milan, so-called political crime took precedence over common crime, and all media and investigative attention shifted in that direction. Just think of the murder of Commissioner Calabresi, an event that is still talked about today. You see, the murders we are dealing with are precisely from that period I call the ‘transition.’ Perhaps there was neither the time nor the need to delve deeper.”
What tools do you have to track down a potential serial killer?
“With today’s technology—which was unimaginable back then—we can achieve tremendous results. Just think of DNA testing, which allows us to identify a culprit even decades later. We don’t know if there are any evidence samples from the identified cases in the basements of the courthouse, but if they exist, they would be invaluable. What matters, however, is the big-picture view of the crimes, from which other common elements will emerge.”
What are the next steps?
“We are filing motions on behalf of some of the victims’ family members specifically to gain access to the case files; then, a team of top-tier expert consultants in every field is ready to contribute their specific expertise to solve these cases, as soon as we have all the case files and any evidence. Paradoxically, the passage of time can actually be helpful. Based on my thirty years of experience with this type of crime, I am certain that beyond the legal truths established in court, there are always other truths that remain hidden for a thousand reasons: out of fear of being drawn into certain stories despite having nothing to do with them; or there are people who have always known but remained silent, or others who have spoken rarely, with belated confessions, perhaps on their deathbeds. I am certain that in the farthest corners of the city there is still someone who knows what happened to those women, and they may know for many reasons even though they were not directly involved. The time has come to issue the classic appeal: “If you know anything, speak up.”
Ever since *Corriere* reported on this counter-investigation and began following its developments, we have encountered quite a bit of reluctance. One of the rare exceptions, right from the start, was actress Agostina Belli, who in fact revealed a connection between two victims—the mother and Elisa Casarotto—and who continues what she herself calls a “desperate search,” hoping that others will join her.
“Those who know the truth should not be afraid; nothing will really happen to them, but they can bring peace and justice to all the families who have been seeking the truth for fifty years. We are here to help. We are providing an email address and a phone number for anyone with information. The email is delittimilano@gmail.com, and the phone number is 370.1518179. To call or leave a message.”