Netflix’s The Monster of Florence limited series has attracted global attention from fans of true crime.
The series dives into the investigation of a disturbing string of eight double murders that occurred on the outskirts of Florence between 1968 and 1985, targeting couples seeking seclusion in lovers’ lanes, with the killer using various weapons.
Filming took place in Florence and its surroundings, where the actual tragedies unfolded, marking one of Italy’s most intricate and protracted criminal inquiries.
Audiences are eager to uncover the identity of the infamous serial killer and whether they were ever apprehended. The moniker “The Monster of Florence” was coined by the Italian media, although none of the homicides happened within the city itself.
It wasn’t until 1981 that authorities connected the murders, leading to an investigation by the Florence Prosecutor’s Office in the early 1990s. Despite convictions of several individuals associated with the lovers’ lane killings, the enigma surrounding The Monster of Florence persists, as the perpetrator has never been brought to justice.
Numerous speculations exist regarding the killer’s identity, but the Netflix series explores a less explored angle, known as the ‘Sardinian trail,’ suggesting a possible connection to the Meles, a Sardinian immigrant family in Tuscany.
Over the years, three men have faced charges related to the case, which was reopened by law enforcement in the 2000s. As recent as 2022, families of the victims continue to press for a reexamination of evidence.
Pietro Pacciani was initially convicted in 1994, but his conviction was overturned on appeal in 1996. Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti were the final suspects to be convicted in 2000, linked to some of the double murders. Francesco Calamandrei stood trial but was acquitted in 2008.
In 2017, journalist Francesco Amicone drew parallels between The Monster of Florence and the Zodiac Killer, pointing to Joseph “Joe” Bevilacqua, a retired U.S. soldier who relocated to Florence in 1974, as a potential suspect. However, in 2021, the case against Bevilacqua, triggered by Amicone’s findings, was dismissed.
The Monster of Florence is now accessible for streaming on Netflix.