Woman found dead outside Trebisacce hospital, partner intercepted at Bari port

The attack and discovery

Ornella Forastefano, a 46-year-old resident of Amendolara in the province of Cosenza, was found gravely injured outside the emergency room of the Guido Chidichimo hospital in Trebisacce at approximately 3:00 AM on the night between Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August. Doctors at the hospital noticed her presence and immediately attempted resuscitation, but she died shortly after from severe internal and external lesions, with particular damage to her face and the back of her neck. According to investigators, the 46-year-old had been savagely beaten, likely inside the home she shared with her partner in Amendolara, before being transported and abandoned, still alive but agonizing, outside the hospital entrance. It remains unclear whether it was the partner who drove her to the hospital.

The search and arrest

The woman's partner, a 42-year-old Albanian citizen, had made himself unreachable immediately after the events. Carabinieri of the Compagnia di Cassano allo Ionio, together with colleagues from the Nucleo Investigativo of Cosenza and the Tenenza di Trebisacce, launched a manhunt across the Alto Jonio Cosentino area. On the morning of Sunday 16 August, the man was located and intercepted at the port of Bari, where he was reportedly about to board a departure. He is now being interrogated to clarify his position and reconstruct the sequence of events. His full identity and photograph have not yet been officially released by investigators, who are maintaining the strictest confidentiality to avoid compromising the inquiry.

Family background and investigation

The victim, though resident in Amendolara, was originally from Cassano allo Ionio. She was the sister of Domenico Forastefano and the daughter of Pasquale Forastefano, a prominent local crime figure currently detained under the 41-bis hard prison regime. Investigators have not excluded any lines of inquiry, though the leading hypothesis remains that of a femicide committed at the climax of a violent argument between the couple. The Prosecutor's Office of Castrovillari, led by Alessandro D'Alessio, is coordinating the investigation. Carabinieri are reviewing surveillance camera footage from the area around the hospital to confirm whether the partner was the one who transported and abandoned the woman before fleeing in a vehicle. Witnesses familiar with the events are also being interviewed. An autopsy may be ordered by the Prosecutor in the coming hours to determine the exact cause of death and the dynamics of the fatal blows.

Community reaction

The municipality of Trebisacce issued a statement expressing deep sorrow for the death of Ornella Forastefano, whose passing is linked to circumstances still being ascertained by the competent authorities.

In a day of celebration for our community, we learn with pain the news of a serious crime that occurred during the night in Amendolara. The municipality of Trebisacce expresses deep sorrow for the tragic loss of Ornella Forastefano.

The local administration extended its condolences and solidarity to the victim's children and the entire Trebisacce community, pending full clarification from investigators.