A 35-year-old man has allegedly been drugged, murdered, and dismembered by his own mother and girlfriend before his body was dumped in a rubbish bin at the family home in northern Italy. The remains of Alessandro Venier were discovered buried in quicklime in the town of Gemona del Friuli, near Udine. Police believe he was killed several days earlier, reportedly by his 61-year-old mother, Lorena Venier, a nurse, and his 30-year-old partner, who is Colombian.
The pair allegedly sedated Mr Venier before hacking him into pieces with an axe, according to Italian media reports. The couple lived together with their six-month-old baby and Mr Venier’s mother in the same house. No motive has yet been confirmed.
The horrific discovery was made by police on Thursday after they were tipped off by one of the suspects.
Both women were arrested at the scene and taken into custody for questioning.
Mr Venier worked in a junior role at a nearby hospital and had been raised by his mother after his Egyptian father left the family when he was an infant.
Neighbours said they were shocked, especially by the alleged involvement of his mother, who was a familiar and trusted figure in the area.
Local mayor Roberto Revelant said: “It’s a terrible thing, it’s heart-wrenching. Nothing like this has ever happened here before.”
He said Mr Venier had expressed dreams of moving to Colombia with his partner and child.
The baby daughter has been taken into care, with local social services stepping in to ensure her welfare.
Mr Revelant added: “The whole community is rallying around the baby.”
A post-mortem examination is under way. Charges are expected to be formally brought against the two women in the coming days.
