A farmer allegedly killed his wife and teenage son and left his daughter fighting for her life after attacking them with a large stone.
Salvatore Ocone went into his bedroom, armed with the stone and a bottle, in the early hours of yesterday (30 Sept) morning.
He allegedly struck his wife, Elisa Pulcino, in the head while she slept, killing her, before bursting into the children’s bedroom.
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After bashing them in the head and face, he bundled them into his car and fled the family home in the small village of Paupisi, north-east of Naples, Italy.
It was Ocone’s own mother, who lives upstairs in the same farmhouse, who discovered Elisa’s body and raised the alarm.
Thirteen hours later, Ocone, 58, was arrested in the countryside near Ferrazzano after a brief chase.
After confessing during questioning, he was taken into custody, charged with double aggravated murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping.
His son, Cosimo, 15, was found dead in the car.
It remains unclear whether he was already dead when placed in the vehicle or died during the flight.
Cosimo’s sister Antonia, 16, suffered a severe skull fracture and underwent delicate, hours-long brain surgery.
She is now in intensive care in serious but stable condition, as reported by Need To Know.
The couple’s eldest son, Mario, who works as a waiter in Rimini, was not at home at the time of the attack.
Ocone, an agricultural worker, and Pulcino, 49, had been married for nearly 25 years.
Neighbours say Ocone had previously shown disturbing behaviour, including stripping in public and seeking refuge in a church – warning signs that were apparently ignored.
Recently, there had been quarrels between the couple.
However, one local, who preferred to remain anonymous, told local media: “We never thought Salvatore could harm his own family or go so far as to kill Elisa and Cosimo.
“He loved his family and had never shown any signs of aggression.”
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