The Monster of Florence and the chilling true story behind Netflix's new thriller
The Monster of Florence is a new series on Netflix that tells the story of a serial killer who targeted couples in Italy
Netflix's limited series The Monster of Florence chronicles the harrowing tale of a serial killer who terrorised couples across Italy.
As the killer remains at large, investigators delve into a 1968 case that could prove crucial in unmasking The Monster of Florence.
In real life, the Italian press coined the moniker for an unidentified serial killer who operated between 1968 and 1985.
The Monster claimed 16 lives, typically targeting young couples in isolated woodland locations. Despite the name, none of the killings actually took place within Florence itself, reports the Express.
The Florence Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation in the early 1990s, resulting in convictions for several individuals linked to the crimes.
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Several suspects faced trial and imprisonment for the offences, including Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti, who were convicted of four of the eight double homicides.
Various weapons were employed, including a handgun and knife, whilst in half the attacks, substantial portions of skin from the genital area were removed from female victims.
Espresso Media described the case as featuring "the ritualistic serial murder of eight young couples in the country lanes around Florence".
The Monster case marked Italy's first documented instance of serial murders targeting couples and is frequently cited as the nation's first modern serial killer case.
The victims of the notorious Monster of Florence included Antonio Lo Bianco, 29, and Barbara Locci, 32; Pasquale Gentilcore, 19, and Stefania Pettini, 18; Giovanni Foggi, 30, and Carmela De Nuccio, 21; Stefano Baldi, 26, and Susanna Cambi, 24; Paolo Mainardi, 22, and Antonella Migliorini, 20; Wilhelm Friedrich Horst Meyer, 24, and Jens Uwe Rüsch, 24; Claudio Stefanacci, 21, and Pia Gilda Rontini, 18; and Jean Michel Kraveichvili, 25, and Nadine Mauriot, 36.
It wasn't until the brutal murders of Foggi and De Nuccio in 1981 that the police connected the dots between these horrific killings.
After unearthing a newspaper article about the Gentilcore-Pettini murder from 1974, detectives carried out a ballistics test which confirmed the same firearm had been used in both crimes.
Due to the intricate nature of the case, the Monster of Florence has seeped into popular culture, inspiring films and TV shows like Hannibal and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
You can now watch The Monster of Florence on Netflix.