Salvatore Dettori, a 46-year-old man from Pulsano, in the province of Taranto, has been arrested on charges of premeditated murder after confessing to the brutal killing of his 73-year-old mother, Silvana Larocca. The crime, which took place in the family’s home, has shocked the local community and authorities alike.
Dettori was detained after a police interrogation, during which he admitted to the heinous act and led investigators to his apartment. There, he made a chilling revelation: inside his refrigerator was a piece of meat, which he claimed was part of his father’s calf, cooked by his mother. Dettori explained that he believed his mother was a vampire, influenced by a group of people who allegedly consumed human flesh — including members of their own family.
In the aftermath of the confession, further disturbing details emerged. Dettori had reportedly scattered large quantities of salt around the doors and windows of his home, convinced that it would protect him from “cannibalistic” threats. He also kept an array of weapons, including bows, arrows, crossbows, and dozens of knives, stored in various parts of the apartment.
According to Dettori, his paranoia had escalated so much that he was even removed from the military, claiming that “cannibal-eaters” were present there too.
The murder itself was brutal and premeditated. Dettori confessed to striking his mother in the back of the head, but she was still alive. He then proceeded to strike her several times in the chest before slashing her throat. Once she stopped breathing, he switched knives and savagely cut open her abdomen to remove her heart with his bare hands.
Dettori is now in custody, awaiting his first appearance in court, where his lawyer will argue for the validity of his detention. The case has left the local community reeling, struggling to comprehend the horror behind this family tragedy.
