Denise Cosco, daughter of anti-mafia witness Lea Garofalo, dies at 35

Death of Denise Cosco

Denise Cosco, the daughter of anti-mafia witness Lea Garofalo, has died by suicide at the age of 35. The incident took place on Sunday, and she died several days later in a hospital. Her death at 35 occurred at the same age her mother was when murdered by the 'Ndrangheta criminal organisation in 2009. Denise lived under state protection for years following her decision to testify against her father, Carlo Cosco, who was convicted of orchestrating her mother's abduction and murder.

Life under state protection

After testifying in the murder trial, Denise lived under an assumed name in a secret location, supported by the Central Protection Service of the Criminal Police, the anti-mafia organisation Libera, and priest Luigi Ciotti. Her participation in the official protection program ended in 2018. During her years under protection, she secured employment and maintained strict privacy, granting few interviews and avoiding public appearances.

Testifying against Carlo Cosco

In July 2011, at 19 years of age, Denise joined the legal proceedings in Milan as a civil party and testified directly against her father. Her testimony provided key evidence in securing convictions for the murder of Lea Garofalo. During the trial before the Assize Court of Milan, prosecutor Maurizio Tatangelo examined the circumstances surrounding the killing. Denise addressed the court about her decision to break with her family.

I am a proud witness of justice because it is not easy to become a civil party against one's own father, but it is a choice of inner freedom to restart life.

Lea Garofalo's break with the 'Ndrangheta

Lea Garofalo originally left Carlo Cosco in 1996 following his arrest, and in 2002 she began collaborating with judicial authorities. She disclosed details regarding drug trafficking conducted by the Cosco family and a clan feud that resulted in the 2005 death of her brother, Floriano Garofalo. After leaving her hometown of Petilia Policastro in the province of Crotone, she relocated with Denise to Campobasso under the witness protection program. In April 2009, Garofalo left the program.

In May 2009, an assailant posing as a washing machine repairman attacked Garofalo in her Campobasso home and attempted to suffocate her. The attack failed when Denise, who had stayed home from school that day, intervened. Following that incident, Garofalo contacted Libera lawyer Enza Rando.

When I met her, she had already suffered the attempted murder in Campobasso. She had reported it, she was scared, and she knew that her former partner had organized the ambush. She had understood it, while everyone else had not yet. The investigations would later confirm it.

The 2009 murder and recovery

On 24 November 2009, Carlo Cosco lured Garofalo to Milan under the pretext of discussing their daughter's future. Municipal surveillance cameras recorded her for the final time at Arco della Pace at 18:37 as she entered a car. She was taken to a warehouse and killed. Her remains were subsequently burned over three days in a field in San Fruttuoso, near Monza. Years later, partial remains were recovered following statements from Carmine Venturino, Denise's former partner who participated in the crime. A public funeral for Garofalo took place in Piazza Beccaria in Milan on 19 October 2013 before thousands of attendees.