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, a small municipality 260km (161 miles) south-east of Rome. Sara's father Gianni - the former mayor of Pietracatella - was also taken to hospital, but he later recovered. The couple's eldest daughter was not present that day.
Doctors initially attributed the symptoms to food poisoning, but the new focus comes after laboratory tests revealed the presence of a deadly poison, ricin, Italian media say - even though police still do not have a suspect. Medical professionals thought the infection could have originated from either fish or mushrooms and discharged the mother and daughter after initial treatment.
However, their symptoms quickly worsened, leading to their re-admittance to the hospital. Dr. Vincenzo Cuzzone, head of the intensive care unit at Cardarelli hospital in nearby Campobasso, noted that liver failure occurred first, followed by multi-organ failure at unprecedented speed. Initially, their deaths were attributed to medical negligence, resulting in an investigation into the doctors who discharged them for manslaughter.
Ricin is a highly toxic chemical found naturally in castor beans, and ingesting even a tiny quantity can lead to rapid organ failure and death, with no known antidote available. As the investigation unfolds, the community mourns the tragic loss and seeks answers.
Doctors initially attributed the symptoms to food poisoning, but the new focus comes after laboratory tests revealed the presence of a deadly poison, ricin, Italian media say - even though police still do not have a suspect. Medical professionals thought the infection could have originated from either fish or mushrooms and discharged the mother and daughter after initial treatment.
However, their symptoms quickly worsened, leading to their re-admittance to the hospital. Dr. Vincenzo Cuzzone, head of the intensive care unit at Cardarelli hospital in nearby Campobasso, noted that liver failure occurred first, followed by multi-organ failure at unprecedented speed. Initially, their deaths were attributed to medical negligence, resulting in an investigation into the doctors who discharged them for manslaughter.
Ricin is a highly toxic chemical found naturally in castor beans, and ingesting even a tiny quantity can lead to rapid organ failure and death, with no known antidote available. As the investigation unfolds, the community mourns the tragic loss and seeks answers.
