Book Review – “The Monster of Florence,” by Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi
Knowing the evidentiary flaws that continue to be uncovered in the Amanda Knox case in Perugia, Italy, I selected this particular publication for my first book review.
This non-fiction book, published by Hatchette Book Group USA, details the efforts to capture a serial killer of young-romantic and sexually-active dating couples in Florence, Italy. In a city known for its art, Catholicism, and underlying Mafia dominance, the egregious actions of the Italian prosecutor’s office in producing questionable secret witnesses, accusations of reporter/author involvement in other alleged murders, inadequate and substandard evidence cannot be ignored. Couple this with the subsequent arrests of journalists who uncovered the investigative flaws and inconsistencies, and you’ll find the common thread in this well-documented history of the murders of the eight young couples featured in “The Monster of Florence.”
More than one “Monster” suspect, convicted by Italian Prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini, was later acquitted due to insufficient or complete lack of evidence. Giuliano Mignini is the same prosecutor who successfully convicted Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in the murder of Meredith Kercher.
Co-author, Douglas Preston, is a former writer and editor for the American Museum of Natural History, writing professor at Princeton University and author of several works published by The New Yorker magazine, Natural History, National Geographic and The Atlantic among other prestigious publications.
Accompanying Mr. Preston in his non-fiction journalistic product is Mario Spezi, known for his investigation coverage of many of the most important criminal cases in Italy, including those involving terrorism and the Mafia. Mr. Spezi was one of the primary investigators of the Monster of Florence case at its very inception.
Both of these authors have done an exceptional job in documenting and relaying the facts of this ongoing investigation. To date, the real “Monster of Florence” has never been clearly identified.
Chronicling the murders of 16 young people over three decades, explicit detail and explanation is given on every page regarding victims, crime scenes, speculation of suspects, investigative techniques, sufficient or insufficient evidence, prosecution and acquittal through the appeal process of five different “Monsters.” The first of which was a 40-year-old ambulance driver and the last, Francesco Calamandrei, an ex-pharmacist who was accused of being the mastermind behind five of the double homicides. Mr. Calamandrei suffered 10 years of investigative, prosecutorial, imprisonment and acquittal processes before being released.
Characteristic trademarks of the serial homicides included coupled victims making love in remote areas adjacent to Florence, executed by a 22-caliber gun shot wound, with the surgical excision and taking of the female’s reproductive organs. On one specific occasion, a piece of the most recent female victim was mailed to Prosecutor Silvia Della Monica, who immediately resigned from the investigation. There was more than one theory as to why she really resigned.
Appearances of the crime scene and bodies caused investigators to formulate many premises for the killings ranging from one serial killer who acted alone, to a criminal mastermind and his assistants, and further yet, related to satanic cult rituals. FBI profiles were sought by Italian officials, and then later rejected. Shell casings and 22-caliber bullets, either used or unused, were the common evidence denominators among all 16 homicides. In Mr. Calamandrei’s trial, a single, but unused, 22-caliber bullet was offered as evidence – believed by many to have been planted. If the bullet had been actually fired, unique and characteristic identifying strike marks could have been used for comparison to those in other murders.
Of five successful prosecutions, three were overturned for lack of evidence, leaving only Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti imprisoned as assistants of convicted “Monster” Pietro Pacciani.
Secret witnesses named “Alpha,” “Beta,” “Delta,” and “Gamma” with backgrounds ranging from being mentally challenged to professional pimps and prostitutes were used by the prosecution team for its successful convictions. Although Giancarlo Lotti initially confessed to assisting Mr. Pacciani in the crimes, he was also used as secret witness “Beta.” One “serial witness” prosecution witness began to recall previously unknown details of murders in past decades.
Charged with “making false statements to the public minister, for the crime of ‘calumny’ in an attempting to frame an innocent person for a crime, defamation by means of the press, and interference with an essential public service” by Prosecutor Mignini, co-author and investigative journalist, Mario Spezi was arrested, detained, and tried by the Tribunale of Reexamination. This is simply a court that examines the reasons for imprisonment before trial. Twenty-three days later, Spezi, speaking in his own behalf was able to demonstrate that Mignini’s parroted argument for his continued incarceration and subsequent conviction came from a conspiracy website identifying the Order of the Red Rose as the satanic sect behind the Monster murders. She also accused Mario Spezi of being the true Monster of Florence. The inconsistencies of Mignini’s investigations were again exposed, and Mario Spezi was released.
In the end, Chief Inspector Michele Giuttari, and Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini were indicted and successfully prosecuted on charges of “falsifying evidence” and “abuse of office.”
Earlier this week, Curt Knox and Edda Mellas, the parents of Amanda Knox, were ordered to stand trial in the city of Perugia for “libeling the police” - charges very similar to those pressed against Mario Spezi. Seeking more documented detail of past behavior by Ms. Knox’s continued adversary, Italian prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, I borrowed this book from my local public library. I have received no incentive, compensation or reward from anyone for reviewing it.
Revealing the factual undue strengths and weaknesses of the Italian justice system and its officials, I found it to be excellent and well worth my reading time investment.
Knowing the evidentiary flaws that continue to be uncovered in the Amanda Knox case in Perugia, Italy, I selected this particular publication for my first book review.
This non-fiction book, published by Hatchette Book Group USA, details the efforts to capture a serial killer of young-romantic and sexually-active dating couples in Florence, Italy. In a city known for its art, Catholicism, and underlying Mafia dominance, the egregious actions of the Italian prosecutor’s office in producing questionable secret witnesses, accusations of reporter/author involvement in other alleged murders, inadequate and substandard evidence cannot be ignored. Couple this with the subsequent arrests of journalists who uncovered the investigative flaws and inconsistencies, and you’ll find the common thread in this well-documented history of the murders of the eight young couples featured in “The Monster of Florence.”
More than one “Monster” suspect, convicted by Italian Prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini, was later acquitted due to insufficient or complete lack of evidence. Giuliano Mignini is the same prosecutor who successfully convicted Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in the murder of Meredith Kercher.
Co-author, Douglas Preston, is a former writer and editor for the American Museum of Natural History, writing professor at Princeton University and author of several works published by The New Yorker magazine, Natural History, National Geographic and The Atlantic among other prestigious publications.
Accompanying Mr. Preston in his non-fiction journalistic product is Mario Spezi, known for his investigation coverage of many of the most important criminal cases in Italy, including those involving terrorism and the Mafia. Mr. Spezi was one of the primary investigators of the Monster of Florence case at its very inception.
Both of these authors have done an exceptional job in documenting and relaying the facts of this ongoing investigation. To date, the real “Monster of Florence” has never been clearly identified.
Chronicling the murders of 16 young people over three decades, explicit detail and explanation is given on every page regarding victims, crime scenes, speculation of suspects, investigative techniques, sufficient or insufficient evidence, prosecution and acquittal through the appeal process of five different “Monsters.” The first of which was a 40-year-old ambulance driver and the last, Francesco Calamandrei, an ex-pharmacist who was accused of being the mastermind behind five of the double homicides. Mr. Calamandrei suffered 10 years of investigative, prosecutorial, imprisonment and acquittal processes before being released.
Characteristic trademarks of the serial homicides included coupled victims making love in remote areas adjacent to Florence, executed by a 22-caliber gun shot wound, with the surgical excision and taking of the female’s reproductive organs. On one specific occasion, a piece of the most recent female victim was mailed to Prosecutor Silvia Della Monica, who immediately resigned from the investigation. There was more than one theory as to why she really resigned.
Appearances of the crime scene and bodies caused investigators to formulate many premises for the killings ranging from one serial killer who acted alone, to a criminal mastermind and his assistants, and further yet, related to satanic cult rituals. FBI profiles were sought by Italian officials, and then later rejected. Shell casings and 22-caliber bullets, either used or unused, were the common evidence denominators among all 16 homicides. In Mr. Calamandrei’s trial, a single, but unused, 22-caliber bullet was offered as evidence – believed by many to have been planted. If the bullet had been actually fired, unique and characteristic identifying strike marks could have been used for comparison to those in other murders.
Of five successful prosecutions, three were overturned for lack of evidence, leaving only Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti imprisoned as assistants of convicted “Monster” Pietro Pacciani.
Secret witnesses named “Alpha,” “Beta,” “Delta,” and “Gamma” with backgrounds ranging from being mentally challenged to professional pimps and prostitutes were used by the prosecution team for its successful convictions. Although Giancarlo Lotti initially confessed to assisting Mr. Pacciani in the crimes, he was also used as secret witness “Beta.” One “serial witness” prosecution witness began to recall previously unknown details of murders in past decades.
Charged with “making false statements to the public minister, for the crime of ‘calumny’ in an attempting to frame an innocent person for a crime, defamation by means of the press, and interference with an essential public service” by Prosecutor Mignini, co-author and investigative journalist, Mario Spezi was arrested, detained, and tried by the Tribunale of Reexamination. This is simply a court that examines the reasons for imprisonment before trial. Twenty-three days later, Spezi, speaking in his own behalf was able to demonstrate that Mignini’s parroted argument for his continued incarceration and subsequent conviction came from a conspiracy website identifying the Order of the Red Rose as the satanic sect behind the Monster murders. She also accused Mario Spezi of being the true Monster of Florence. The inconsistencies of Mignini’s investigations were again exposed, and Mario Spezi was released.
In the end, Chief Inspector Michele Giuttari, and Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini were indicted and successfully prosecuted on charges of “falsifying evidence” and “abuse of office.”
Earlier this week, Curt Knox and Edda Mellas, the parents of Amanda Knox, were ordered to stand trial in the city of Perugia for “libeling the police” - charges very similar to those pressed against Mario Spezi. Seeking more documented detail of past behavior by Ms. Knox’s continued adversary, Italian prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, I borrowed this book from my local public library. I have received no incentive, compensation or reward from anyone for reviewing it.
Revealing the factual undue strengths and weaknesses of the Italian justice system and its officials, I found it to be excellent and well worth my reading time investment.
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