In 2018, the doctor and criminologist from Sementina managed to solve the 1987 Macchi murder case – Franco Posa solves cold cases: The hunt for the “Monster of Milan”
Edited by STEFANO PIAZZA
Dr. Franco Posaof Bellinzona, currently the scientific director of “NeuroIntelligence,” which operates in several countries, is once again grappling with a case that has its roots in the past. This time, it involves a serial killer dubbed by the press “the Monster of Milan,” who murdered eight women between 1963 and 1976. Some are convinced that there are actually eleven interconnected murders. The“Corriere della Sera”has covered these crimes, revealing in several investigations that the killer struck within“a closed triangle between Via Filzi, Piazza Cordusio, and Via Pace.”
The story
The string of murders committed by the “Monster of Milan” began on July 24, 1971, with the murder of 25-year-oldSimonetta Ferrero, an executive at Montedison, who left her home on Via Osoppo around 10 a.m. to do some shopping before leaving for a family vacation in Corsica. The young woman said she would be back for lunch, but that was not to be, as her body was found two days later in a bathroom at theCatholicUniversity of Milan, where Simonetta Ferrero had graduated two years earlier. The body bore 33 stab wounds, 7 of which were fatal. The investigation soon stalled because no one had seen or heard anything; the body, ravaged by a sharp, long-bladed knife, was fully clothed, with no signs of sexual assault, and the woman had injuries on her hands that indicated her last desperate attempts to protect herself from the killer’s fury. But why did Simonetta Ferrero go to the Catholic University that morning? For simple physiological needs? And why in the restrooms of Block G, which were the farthest from the university entrance? A mystery. During the investigation, several suspects were questioned. Among them was the seminarian who had found the body, followed by some construction workers who were working at the Catholic University at the time, and finally, a few people who had interviewed Ferrero for a job at Montedison, but none of the investigative leads turned up anything. This was also because the investigation into the young woman’s life revealed nothing unusual: she had no romantic relationships and still lived with her parents. Not even the robbery lead yields anything, because the woman’s purse containing her money was found next to her body, and she still had a gold ring on her finger. After hundreds of interrogations and after hearing from a string of pathological liars who falsely accuse themselves of the crime, there remains a corpse and a thousand questions. And then what happens?
While the investigation stalled, between 1963 and 1976, the “monster” killed—always with a knife—the shop clerk Salvina Rota, the boardinghouse owner Adele Margherita Dossena (mother of Italian actress Agostina Belli), the street vendor Alba Trosti, the three prostitutes Olimpia Drusin, Elisa Casarotto, Tiziana Moscadelli, and fashion designer Valentina Masneri.
Dr. Posa, over the course of your long career, you’ve solved numerous “cold cases.” Which one was the most complicated, and why? And have you ever feared, during an investigation, that you wouldn’t be able to identify the culprit?
Let me start by saying that my work is strictly scientific; as a criminologist and forensic expert, I always feel compelled to clarify that it is not my role to identify the perpetrator. In my experience, I have worked on over 35 “cold cases” to date. Each case presents new unknowns that require innovative strategies, which often must be developed on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, I always prioritize consultation with the scientific community so that I can constantly verify the validity of the techniques applied. Certainly, one of the most interesting challenges from a scientific standpoint is the current work on the Milan cases—a challenge driven by the number of cases, their geographic location, the long time that has passed since the events occurred, and the innovative techniques being applied.
What is forensic neuroscience, which has become indispensable for solving, for example, unsolved cases for decades?
Another activity we have been conducting for over twenty years involves assessing criminal behavior and modus operandi from an innovative forensic neuroscientific perspective. Today, it is possible to present evidence in court derived from the study of brain metabolism using highly innovative techniques (functional magnetic resonance imaging, PET, etc.). In this way, we provide the prosecutor or the parties involved in the trial with objective, valid evidence to establish that the defendant’s free will was impaired. The aim is clearly to justify the behavior and, if possible, to persuade the judges to grant certain general mitigating circumstances.
In her investigations of serial crimes, she uses a specific technique known as “psychological autopsy.” What exactly is it?
Psychological autopsy is performed by
late 1960s in many countries. The goal is to listen to people who, at the time of the events, were directly or indirectly involved in the crime. In our work, we have applied an innovative psychological autopsy framework to nine “cold cases,” yielding remarkable results. In one of our most recent investigations, we recovered biological material that had been preserved for 50 years by one of the individuals involved in the crime—material that, until a few weeks ago, no one could have imagined would be recoverable. At the upcoming congress of the European Society of Criminology, we will present some innovative elements regarding the new psychological autopsy protocols we are currently utilizing.
What goes on in the mind of a serial killer, and how does the personality of someone who, for example, rapes and murders women or men in a series of crimes over the course of years develop?
There are many answers; every case is unique. Without referring to the academic classification of serial killers, it is clear that the motivations are always varied, and it is truly difficult to list the factors that lead to a criminal evolution in a person’s mind. I will mention, by way of example, a state of heightened emotional arousal. I can confirm, however, that it is rare for a serial killer to have a psychiatric disorder; this link, often taken for granted, is actually very rare.
Is it true that they keep pushing the limits further and further because, deep down, they want to be caught? Or is it just an urban legend?
The standoff between the killer and law enforcement is one of the factors that keeps the killer's desire to kill alive, but it is only one of them.
To get back to the present, how did the “Monster of Milan” case come about? How were you able to link the murders together?
We are analyzing evidence that may lead to identifying a single perpetrator as the culprit in at least some of the cases. We are doing this by using high-definition reconstructions of the weapon marks left on the victims. We have conducted geolocation analysis to narrow down the perpetrator’s area of operation and, potentially, the most likely area of residence. Last but not least, we have applied an innovative and particularly strategic psychological autopsy by interviewing dozens of people—obviously living individuals—who were able to provide us with important details.
Finally, is there a real possibility that the “Monster of Milan” is still alive and could therefore be brought to justice for his horrific crimes?
Given the time period in question, I consider this unlikely. From a scientific standpoint, this is a unique undertaking in Europe, first and foremost due to the long-ago nature of the events, the number of cases, their geographic distribution, and the opportunity to apply highly innovative and effective techniques. To date, we already possess objective evidence demonstrating that in at least five of the cases, there are numerous objectively identified common elements—elements that support the hypothesis of a single perpetrator of these crimes.