Naples. The second precautionary order has arrived for Francesco Marrazzo, the man who drugged his victims with almond milk adulterated at Tranquillit and then robbed them.
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This morning, the Carabinieri of the Stella Operations Unit executed a precautionary measure in prison against the 50-year-old, a repeat offender, unemployed and drug addict.
He is charged with attempted robbery, aggravated robbery and injury aggravated by the use of poisonous and insidious substances, administered via benzodiazepines, crimes committed against seven people (six women and one man, aged between 20 and 55) in the period from 6 to 10 July last.
The man, already detained, is the same one that the Carabinieri of the Company of Napoli Center, by order of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Naples, had tracked down and placed under arrest as a suspect in the crime.
He was accused of aggravated assault and robbery against a 78-year-old woman from Ischia, who was picked up on June 21 at Molo Beverello and drugged with coffee containing benzodiazepines for the purpose of robbery.
The investigations carried out by the Compagnia di Napoli Stella have allowed them to collect numerous elements, also thanks to the viewing of video surveillance systems, which have traced the responsibility for three other distinct episodes back to the man.
The identification was possible thanks to the investigative collaboration with colleagues from Compagnia Napoli Centro and the coordination of the judicial authority of Naples.
The investigation revealed that the 50-year-old, on Saturday 6 July, wearing a red mask and carrying a tray, entered a household goods and detergent shop, pretending to be a waiter recently hired by a nearby bar.
He managed to convince four employees, aged between 20 and 45, to drink almond milk and black cherry drinks, which were already poured into glasses. Shortly after, the women felt severe dizziness and lost consciousness, and were helped by those present.
He had already confessed to using Tranquillit
The reports revealed that the employees had been drugged with benzodiazepines (an active ingredient with sedative properties) in an attempted robbery, which failed thanks to the presence of other customers and employees who prevented the 50-year-old from acting undisturbed.
A few days later, on Wednesday 10th July, three people (a 50 year old man, owner of a fishmonger, her 35-year-old daughter and the 55-year-old owner of a tobacconist's shop on Via Foria) were admitted to the Vecchio Pellegrini Hospital with the same symptoms.
Following the testimonies of the victims, all of whom had benzodiazepines in their blood, a shortage of cash was found in the pockets of the fishmonger's owner.
On this occasion, the man, changing his modus operandi, managed to have the almond milk drink delivered to the two businesses thanks to unaware bartenders, taking advantage of the victims' unconscious state and the absence of other customers, stealing the money from the victim's pockets.
Article published on 3 August 2024 - 06:57
