Two urbexers have discovered a skull and a bra in a crumbling tower house near the home of a woman missing for more than 15 months.
The urban explorers entered the structure last Thursday (1 Jan), despite the risk of collapse.
Inside, they found an almost intact skull, a tangle of hair or fur mixed with mud, and a bra left prominently at the entrance.
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The building lies just a few hundred yards from the home of Daniela Ruggi, who vanished without a trace on 18 September 2024.
Her sudden disappearance prompted extensive but fruitless searches in nearby woods and gullies.
Disturbingly, the ruin in Vitriola – a hamlet in Italy’s Modena province – had already been inspected six times by authorities.
One theory is that the items were placed there only recently.
DNA tests are now under way to determine if the remains belong to the missing 32-year-old, with investigators strongly suspecting they do.
The main suspect in Daniela’s disappearance is Domenico Lanza, of nearby Polinago, as reported by Need To Know.
Among the last people to see her before she vanished, he was questioned by police, and a search of his home uncovered several undeclared firearms, leading to his arrest in December 2024.
He spent three months in custody and later received an 18-month suspended sentence. However, no concrete evidence has emerged linking the 68-year-old to Daniela’s disappearance.
In recent weeks, his lawyer, Fausto Gianelli, filed to close the case, citing “unfounded” accusations against his client.
The home of Daniela’s brother, Alberto Ruggi, was also searched in recent months.
A friend of the missing woman told reporters she had seen Alberto grab Daniela on at least two occasions during arguments. He denies the claims.
On the day Daniela went missing, she was taken to A&E for a minor infection. After being discharged, CCTV captured her leaving the hospital. Her mobile phone has been switched off and unreachable ever since.
Lawyer Guido Sola told local media: “At the moment, her mother does not wish to make any statements. The hope is that those poor remains are not her beloved daughter’s.”
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