Ranucci case: Lavitola beaten in Rebibbia prison

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Ranucci Lavitola Case Beaten in Rebibbia Prison 2026 09 02

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An attack that occurred during a free-time exercise session, committed within the walls of Rebibbia prison, and immediately came under investigation by investigators. Valter Lavitola, arrested last August 10th on suspicion of being the mastermind behind the failed attack on journalist Sigfrido Ranucci, was attacked late yesterday afternoon inside the Roman prison.

Emergency treatment by prison medical staff did not reveal the former editor of Avanti! to have sustained serious injuries, but the Penitentiary Police have already forwarded initial details to the Prosecutor's Office for the opening of an investigation.

Adding to the heated atmosphere in the prison wing is the "forced" cohabitation with his alleged accomplices. In the same prison are also held Pellegrino D'Avino, Antonio Passariello, and Saverio Mutone, arrested on June 30th and believed to be the perpetrators of the Ranucci intimidation.

According to prosecutors, the three members of Avellino's petty crime syndicate were hired by Clesio Gomez Tavares, Lavitola's right-hand man, to plant the explosive device in front of the Report host's home.

"He must give us our money back": the fury of the intercepted attackers

The climate of deep resentment toward the fixer is revealed by audio recordings captured by investigators' bugs inside the cells immediately after the searches. The bugs recorded poisonous conversations. Speaking about Lavitola, Mutone vented his anger thus:
"I'll teach you and this piece of shit the law. This guy's name is written on it anyway, he's out. They should have arrested him right away. He pushes the others ahead and he takes the money."

On July 8th, watching the news, the three angrily commented on the alleged mastermind's temporary freedom: "You, the mastermind, are still free? They have the money, the friends, the politics." Then came the explicit threat regarding an unpaid financial agreement: "We didn't fool that guy. Get me out of here, then I'll show you how to reason. I'll go to that guy's house, he'll have to give me my money back."

The mystery of the telephones and the obstacle of the preliminary investigation

Meanwhile, the suspect's situation on the judicial front is becoming more complicated. A report from the Carabinieri Investigative Unit, filed ahead of the hearing at the Court of Review on September 7, reveals anomalies in the cell phones seized from the former publisher. Analysis of the latest-generation iPhone used by Lavitola reveals significant gaps in time in WhatsApp conversations with Ranucci.

Although the two had known each other since 2019 and maintained frequent contact, months of messages remain missing. The investigative hypothesis is that Lavitola systematically deleted the device from chats deemed "inconvenient," although the chances of recovering the deleted material remain slim.

Meanwhile, the former publisher's defense has received a first refusal regarding precautionary measures. Preliminary Investigating Judge Livio Sabatini denied the motion by lawyer Sergio Cola to declare the pretrial detention order ineffective, arguing that, given the alleged aggravating circumstance of mafia methods, the Review Court should have scheduled the hearing more urgently. Lavitola therefore remains in custody while the Prosecutor's Office attempts to shed light on the motive for the attack and the circumstances of a criminal alliance that ended in bloodshed.

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