Marco Di Muro to leave prison in 2026. Parents of Federica Mangiapelo: 'For us, it's endless pain'

Marco Di Muro, convicted of murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend Federica Mangiapelo, will leave prison in June 2026. The tragic incident occurred on the night of October 31 to November 1, 2012, on the shores of Lake Bracciano in the town of Anguillara Sabazia. The teenager's body was found on the morning of All Saints' Day, and the investigation revealed that her then-partner was responsible, having drowned her following an argument. The man's impending release is causing renewed public outcry, particularly in the context of the length of the sentence for taking a young person's life. The news of his release date coincides with anniversaries and a debate over the effectiveness of the Italian penal system.

The judicial proceedings for Marco Di Muro concluded with a final sentence of 14 years imprisonment, which was confirmed by the Court of Cassation in December 2017. Initially, in July 2015, the court of first instance sentenced him to 18 years in prison, applying the abbreviated procedure. However, in September 2016, the appeals court decided to reduce the sentence to 14 years. The reduction in his prison term, which will allow the perpetrator to leave his cell in June 2026, results directly from provisions regarding the inmate's good behavior. The Federica Mangiapelo case became one of the symbols of the fight for harsher penalties in Italy and led to significant changes in the penal code. In 2019, the Italian parliament passed a law prohibiting the use of the abbreviated procedure in murder cases punishable by life imprisonment. If Marco Di Muro were tried under today's laws, he could not have benefited from the sentence reduction that allowed him to avoid a longer prison term.

The victim's parents, Luigi and Rosanna Mangiapelo, express deep pain and opposition to a justice system that allows the perpetrator to return to society after less than 14 years. The murdered teenager's father emphasizes that the convict showed no remorse nor attempted to apologize to the family throughout his sentence. „Non ha mai chiesto perdono, non ha mai detto 'scusa'. Ora sarà libero, mentre nostra figlia non tornerà mai” (He never asked for forgiveness, he never said 'sorry'. Now he will be free, while our daughter will never return) — Luigi Mangiapelo via Tgcom24 The victim's family points out that while the law has changed for the benefit of future victims, in their case, justice proved too lenient. Timeline of the Marco Di Muro trial: November 1, 2012 — Federica's murder; July 17, 2015 — First verdict; September 2016 — Appeals verdict; December 13, 2017 — Cassation confirmation; June 2026 — Planned release

The convict's legal situation is also controversial regarding the conditions he must meet after release to avoid returning to prison. While the main sentence is ending, the system provides control mechanisms aimed at monitoring the former inmate's behavior. Federica's parents continue their work to preserve their daughter's memory, striving to make her story a warning against relationship violence. Evolution of the sentence and laws: Sentence length: 18 years (2015 verdict) → 14 years (final verdict); Availability of abbreviated procedure: Permitted in 2012 → Prohibited since 2019 for murders