GENOA — 1997 · Serial Murder

The Train Serial Killer

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

Between October 1997 and April 1998, in under seven months, 17 people, nine women and eight men, were killed in Liguria and Piedmont. The victims included gambling-house operators, money changers, night watchmen and women; several killings took place on regional trains. The Italian press called the killer the "serial killer of the trains". A car described by a surviving witness, and traffic fines issued to it that matched the crime scenes, led investigators to the perpetrator; after a DNA match he was arrested on 6 May 1998 and confessed. On 12 April 2000 he received 13 life sentences. He died of Covid-19 in prison in Padua in December 2020.

Date: 1997
Place: Liguria and Piedmont, Italy, Genoa, IT
Category: Serial Murder
Case Status: Solved
Coordinates: 44.4070, 8.9340 ↗

Timeline of Events

October 1997The series of killings began in Liguria.
April 1998The last killings took place on regional trains.
6 May 1998The perpetrator was arrested after a DNA match.

12 April 2000He received 13 life sentences.
17 December 2020He died in prison in Padua.

Sources

Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.