Garlasco, Italy – May 28, 2025

In a dramatic development in the long-running investigation into the 2007 murder of Chiara Poggi in Garlasco, Italy, a man named Gianni Bruscagin has emerged as a key figure, dubbed the “super witness” by the Italian media. Bruscagin, previously anonymous, revealed his identity in a May 27, 2025, broadcast of the Italian investigative TV program Le Iene, stepping forward to share a testimony he claims was ignored 18 years ago and to counter what he alleges are defamatory statements by Gian Luigi Tizzoni, the attorney for the Poggi family.

Who is Gianni Bruscagin?

Gianni Bruscagin is a resident of the Garlasco area and a longtime acquaintance of Tizzoni, with personal ties dating back to their families—Bruscagin noted that his mother worked for Tizzoni’s mother. He has no formal role as a detective or investigator but has been thrust into the spotlight due to his claims about critical information related to the murder of Chiara Poggi, who was killed in her family’s home on August 13, 2007. Bruscagin’s decision to go public came after Le Iene aired his anonymous testimony the previous week, prompting a rebuttal from Tizzoni that Bruscagin says defamed him.

What Did Bruscagin Claim?

Bruscagin alleges that in 2007, shortly after Poggi’s murder, he received information from two now-deceased individuals he met in a hospital. According to his account, a woman from Tromello, a town near Garlasco, told him she saw Stefania Cappa—one of Chiara Poggi’s cousins, who has never been investigated—acting agitated and carrying a heavy bag while entering her grandmother’s house in Tromello on the morning of the murder. The woman reportedly heard a loud thud, as if something heavy was thrown into a nearby canal. Bruscagin claims he recorded these details on handwritten notes to preserve the memory, which he displayed during his Le Iene interview, stating, “I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget. I’m telling the truth, and I’m not afraid.”

This testimony aligns with recent investigative developments. In May 2025, authorities drained and searched a canal near the grandmother’s house in Tromello, recovering items including a hammer that may be linked to the murder weapon, which has never been found. Bruscagin’s account reportedly prompted these searches, suggesting his information could be significant.

Conflict with the Poggi Family’s Attorney

Bruscagin claims he shared this information with Tizzoni shortly after the murder, alleging that Tizzoni contacted him first, asking for help due to their longstanding acquaintance. However, Bruscagin says Tizzoni dismissed his account, citing an ongoing investigation into Alberto Stasi, Poggi’s boyfriend, who was convicted of the murder in 2015 but has since been released pending a retrial. Bruscagin further alleges that Tizzoni told him not to pursue the matter and that he was warned by a Milan-based carabinieri colonel that those handling the case were “not reliable,” discouraging him from coming forward at the time.

Tizzoni, in response, denies Bruscagin’s version of events, stating that Bruscagin was one of many people who approached him in 2007 with theories, describing him as someone proposing himself as a “detective” or “private investigator.” Tizzoni claims he advised Bruscagin to take his information to the carabinieri and insists there was nothing concrete in his claims. He also downplayed the significance of Bruscagin’s testimony, noting the intense media pressure at the time led to many unsubstantiated tips.

Why Bruscagin Went Public

Bruscagin decided to reveal his identity on Le Iene to counter Tizzoni’s statements, which he felt portrayed him as an unreliable opportunist. “I’m putting my face to it because I was publicly defamed by the Poggi family’s lawyer,” he said during the broadcast. He insists his account is truthful and has been consistent, as evidenced by his 2007 notes, which he provided to both Le Iene and the Pavia prosecutor’s office. His testimony is now part of the ongoing reinvestigation into Poggi’s murder, which has been reopened following new evidence and questions about Stasi’s conviction.

Context of the Garlasco Case

The murder of Chiara Poggi remains one of Italy’s most high-profile unsolved cases. Alberto Stasi was convicted based on circumstantial evidence, but inconsistencies, such as unexamined DNA and allegations of investigative errors, have fueled doubts. Bruscagin’s testimony, alongside another witness, Marco De Montis Muschitta, who in 2007 reported seeing Stefania Cappa on a black bicycle with a fireplace tool (later retracting his statement under pressure), has reignited interest in alternative suspects, particularly the Cappa twins, who were Poggi’s cousins and close family friends.

Current Status

Bruscagin’s claims have been formalized in two statements submitted to the Pavia prosecutor’s office, and the recent canal search suggests authorities are taking his information seriously. However, his testimony relies on secondhand accounts from deceased individuals, which complicates verification. The ongoing investigation, spurred by Le Iene’s coverage and new evidence, continues to probe whether Stefania Cappa or others may have been involved in Poggi’s death.

Bruscagin’s emergence has added a new layer to the Garlasco mystery, raising questions about why his information was allegedly dismissed in 2007 and whether it could reshape the case. As he stated, “I’m not inventing anything. I’ve always kept this story in mind.” For now, the Pavia authorities are analyzing the recovered hammer and other evidence, while Bruscagin’s bold move to go public keeps the spotlight on one of Italy’s most enduring criminal enigmas.