A 17-year-old student from Viadana has been arrested on charges of premeditated murder and concealment of a body. The victim, 42-year-old Maria Campai from Parma, had been missing since Thursday, September 19. Authorities believe the two met for an intimate encounter, which ended with the teenager killing her for reasons still under investigation. The crime allegedly took place in a garage on Via Monteverdi 2, where the boy lived. He is accused of moving the body just hours after the murder, hiding it in an abandoned villa nearby. The body was discovered a week later, concealed among leaves and shrubs.
The motive behind the fatal attack remains unclear. Investigators are exploring several possibilities, including whether Campai discovered the boy’s age or if there was a financial dispute between them. The victim reportedly suffered a blow to the head with a blunt object before being suffocated. Further details are expected to emerge in the coming days as the suspect undergoes questioning.
Campai and the boy reportedly met on social media. The victim had multiple online profiles, including 13 Facebook accounts and two Instagram profiles, though it is not clear how many were active. Investigators are looking into her digital footprint as part of the case.
Authorities launched a search for Campai after her sister Roxana reported her missing on Friday, September 20. The investigation involved a wide-scale search of the area, supported by sniffer dogs from the Civil Protection Agency. By Thursday, police had gathered enough evidence, including surveillance footage and witness testimonies, to focus their attention on the 17-year-old suspect. According to the police, the murder took place in the suspect’s garage, after which he allegedly moved the body to a nearby abandoned house, covering it with foliage. The body was discovered and examined by a forensic team, though an autopsy is still required to determine the exact cause of death.
The teenager, represented by lawyers Paolo Antonini and Valeria Bini, has been transferred to the Beccaria juvenile detention center in Milan. A hearing to validate his arrest is expected to take place on Monday at the Juvenile Court of Brescia.
