Suspect in Trieste Cold Case Resides in Villach

A cold case that has captivated the city of Trieste and the Italian public for years has now drawn attention to Carinthia, Austria. The key suspect in the case is currently staying in Villach. In January 2022, the body of a 63-year-old retiree was discovered in a forest in Trieste, two weeks after she had disappeared. The married former employee from the Friuli region was en route to visit a friend but never arrived.

Initially, it was unclear whether the woman had been murdered or had taken her own life. Following pressure from her brother, her remains were exhumed recently. An autopsy conducted about a month ago confirmed that she had fallen victim to a violent crime. As a result, investigations have now been opened against her husband.

The 73-year-old suspect, who worked as a knife sharpener in Trieste, had an extensive collection of 700 knives and other sharp weapons confiscated during a search of his residence. He has traveled to Villach, likely seeking to evade media attention. The duration of his stay remains unknown. The suspect stated to the Italian news agency ANSA that he had come to Villach to rest and was aware that investigations would be initiated against him. He mentioned having gone on a cycling trip around Lake Feldsee with friends but did not disclose when he would return to Trieste.

The brother of the deceased believes that the husband is responsible for his sister's murder, asserting that he was the only person with a motive to kill her. According to the brother, the victim intended to leave her husband to start a new life with a childhood friend. This potential separation would have resulted in the husband losing his financial support, as the couple depended on the sister's pension. The brother had always doubted the initial conclusion of suicide as suggested by investigators, which led him to oppose the cremation of her remains. His insistence on the exhumation of the body has significantly shifted the direction of the investigations.