Violence at the Excavations: The Brutal Caretaker Caught on Camera

Pompeii – "Our thoughts are with the victim of the serious incident of sexual violence that, according to the investigation, occurred at the site. Beyond the criminal proceedings initiated by the Prosecutor's Office, with which we are cooperating in every way possible, there will also be disciplinary consequences once all the necessary internal investigations have been completed."

This was stated by the director of the Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, in relation to the "regrettable" incident "that occurred at the Pompeii excavations and made public by the Torre Annunziata Public Prosecutor's Office, of a 17-year-old who was sexually assaulted by a caretaker.

"We thank the Carabinieri for their work, which also relied on the Archaeological Park's video surveillance system, which contributed to the effectiveness of the investigation. This is a very serious and shocking event, which, moreover, occurred in a place that should be a stronghold of humanity and culture. We will evaluate whether to join the civil action in any eventual trial," concludes Zuchtriegel.

The caretaker accused of sexual assault followed the young man and then lured him into the closed Domus

According to the reconstruction by preliminary investigations judge Luisa Crasta of the Torre Annunziata Court, the 58-year-old from Scafati approached the 17-year-old shortly after entering the site, asking if he needed a map of the archaeological site. Despite the young man's refusal, he followed him and met him at the domus of Ottavio Quartio. This reconstruction reflects both the statements of the 17-year-old—a passionate archaeologist and vacationing with his family, originally from Padua—and the security footage.

The boy had decided to return to the Archaeological Park alone after a visit last year to see some domus that he had not been able to visit the year before.

He exploited the victim's passion for archaeology by presenting himself as a tour guide.

And taking advantage of his interest in ancient Pompeii, the caretaker approached him and followed him, providing him with some historical and archaeological information. After the Domus Quartio, the boy continued on alone toward the fugitives' garden, where he once again encountered the caretaker, who offered—claiming to be a tour guide—to take him to the House of Hercules, normally closed to the public but to which he had the keys.

After seeing the interior, the two headed into the garden where the violence allegedly took place on a stone triclinium.

The route inside the excavations was reconstructed not only from the statements of the young man who reported the incident to the Carabinieri station immediately after the violence, but also through security cameras at the archaeological site.

The investigating judge: "He committed violence in broad daylight at his workplace, regardless of whether he was recognized."

According to preliminary investigations judge Luisa Crasta in her detention order, the 58-year-old allegedly exploited "the boy's interest in archaeology, offering him the opportunity—particularly tempting for a young man driven by such a passion—to access a house normally closed to the public."

The judge noted that the man allegedly committed the violence "in broad daylight, at his workplace, and using the privileges deriving from his duties, despite the risk of being seen or recognized." He was also placed in pre-trial detention due to "a level of self-control incompatible with the belief that less severe measures could adequately mitigate the danger."