Unidentified man, Alpignano (Torino), 20/12/1998

Data shown in the record

Date of recovery: 20/12/1998
Case file number: 197
Place of recovery: Wooded area, Sangone/Dora street
Municipality: Alpignano
Province: Torino
Region: Piemonte
Sex: Male
Estimated age: 50 years
Height: 170 cm
Biogeographic ancestry: Caucasian Not present in the official register; added from a press source cited below.
Distinguishing marks: upper dental arch prosthesis with semi-precious metal; hands severed before death Previous version of the register: protesi arcata dentaria sup. con metallo semi prezioso Register value corrected on the basis of a press source cited below.
Clothing: sweater, overcoat, shoes
Presumed cause of death: skull fracture/ charred
Further information: Partially charred.

What emerges when the official register data are compared with the press sources collected below.

The autopsy established that the hands had been severed before death and not lost in the fire: an act that investigators read as either punishment or an attempt to prevent identification through fingerprints.

Cadavere bruciato ancora senza nome

La Stampa, 22 December 1998

The article, published the day after the discovery, describes the dental arches as severely damaged by the blows suffered; the metal prosthesis listed in the register's record is a detail evidently found during later examinations. The victim was never identified.
Ucciso e bruciato nei prati

La Stampa, 21 December 1998

The body, found in a small wood between Alpignano and Rivoli, had a shattered skull, had been set on fire, and was missing both hands; the identity was never established.