Turin police detain three suspects after dismembered body is found in apartment

Emergency call and police response in Turin

Police in Turin began a homicide investigation following an emergency call placed to the 112 dispatch center late on Thursday night. A woman of South American origin contacted authorities from the southern Mirafiori district, telling operators that her 26-year-old son had severely harmed someone. Patrol officers from the state police were dispatched to the Mirafiori residence, where they found the mother and her son in an agitated state. During initial questioning by responding officers, the 26-year-old admitted to committing a homicide, stating that he had killed a man at an address on the opposite side of the city. The suspect then led officers north across Turin to a fourth-floor residential apartment located on Via Tommaso Gulli, situated between the Madonna di Campagna and Borgo Vittoria neighborhoods.

Crime scene discovery and forensic findings

When officers arrived at the fourth-floor flat on Via Gulli, the tenant opened the door, releasing a strong, acrid odor into the building corridor. Upon inspecting the premises, officers discovered dismembered human remains concealed inside large black garbage bags in the bathroom. Several body parts had been placed inside buckets and covered with quick-setting cement in an apparent effort to hide the corpse. Next to the remains, forensic investigators and the medical examiner recovered a bucket containing multiple bloodstained kitchen knives of various blade lengths. The victim was formally identified as Fabio Colapietro, a 39-year-old resident of Settimo Torinese whose family members had reported him missing several days prior. Forensic analysis confirmed that Colapietro suffered fatal violence, showing extensive evidence of knife wounds and blunt-force trauma from beatings.

Detentions and criminal charges

The tenant of the Via Gulli apartment was identified as Nicole Formichetti, an Italian language teacher originally from Rieti who taught at an educational institute in Ciriè. Officers from the Squadra Mobile brought Formichetti, the 26-year-old confessor, and a 22-year-old woman to police headquarters for extensive questioning. Following day-long interrogations coordinated by public prosecutor Lea Lamonaca, authorities issued formal detention orders against all three individuals. The 26-year-old suspect was detained on charges of murder and the suppression of a corpse after providing a confession to investigators. Formichetti and the 22-year-old woman were placed under formal investigation on charges of aiding and abetting, as well as complicity in concealing the body.

Investigation into motive and location of the killing

State police placed the Via Gulli apartment under judicial seizure while executing search warrants at the Mirafiori home of the 26-year-old and the residence of the 22-year-old. During initial statements, the primary suspect claimed the fatal confrontation began as a violent altercation over an alleged robbery or theft, though prosecutors noted multiple contradictions in the account. Investigators are interviewing numerous acquaintances and frequent visitors of the flat to determine the exact circumstances preceding the death. Building residents reported a constant turnover of visitors entering and leaving the teacher's apartment during day and night hours, noting that she was often seen walking a small dog with different companions. Detectives are also examining whether Colapietro was killed inside the Via Gulli residence or slain elsewhere before his remains were transported to the apartment.