The killer’s excuses collapsed under repeated questioning (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A ruthless murderer who persistently lied to conceal the savage killing of his own mother has finally been arrested. Friends grew worried when 86-year-old Enrica Bardotti failed to show up for mass at her local church on Sunday, January 18.
Fellow churchgoers attempted to reach her via WhatsApp but received no reply. Reports suggest that Enrica was last « seen » on the app at 5:17 pm on January 16.
When a few of them visited her Turin, Italy residence to check on her wellbeing, they were greeted by her son, Marco Paventi, 58.
Paventi initially reassured visitors, claiming that Enrica was « just away on a trip. »
Dissatisfied with his explanation, they alerted the police. Officers who visited the home in Piobesi Torinese were initially fed the same tale.
Paventi was formally arrested this week (Image: Getty Stock Image)
Only after persistent questioning on Wednesday evening did the 58-year-old start to confess part of the truth: « One day I came home and found her dead. I buried her in a wood near the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi. »
He added: « She was already dead, I just hid the body so I could collect her pension. I’m unemployed, that money is my only source of income. »
However, further questioning revealed the full horror, as Paventi eventually admitted that he had murdered his mother before burying her body in nearby woodland.
Enrica’s remains were found in an advanced state of decomposition, which made it challenging to ascertain the exact cause of death. An autopsy is anticipated in the coming days.
Paventi directed investigating officers to where he had buried his mother [stock image] (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Early police reports indicate that Paventi strangled his mother and bludgeoned her with a hammer. Detectives believe the killer’s motivation was financial gain.
Enrica and her son, originally from Rome, had been living together in Piobesi Torinese for several years and frequently clashed over money.
The pensioner had even sold an apartment to help her son settle debts, but the situation failed to improve, and ongoing arguments ultimately culminated in tragedy. Paventi is now in custody, facing charges of murder and concealment of a corpse.
Killer and victim had moved together to Turin (Image: Getty)
The case shares parallels with that of Virginia McCullough in Essex, who murdered her parents, concealed their bodies for four years, and continued to claim their pensions. McCullough even hid her mother’s corpse in a wardrobe after « maggots and flies » began to appear shortly after the killings.
Upon her arrest, McCullough appeared almost relieved, revealing the secret behind her parents’ disappearance.
In the years following the murders, she continued to claim her parents’ pensions and used their credit cards, allegedly making around £150,000. An Essex court also heard that she spent approximately £21,000 on online gambling between 2019 and 2023.
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