Milan Prosecutor’s Office Reopens Investigation into 1978 Murder of Fausto and Iaio
Milan, May 6, 2025 – Nearly half a century after the brutal murder of Fausto Tinelli and Lorenzo “Iaio” Iannucci, two 18-year-old left-wing activists, the Milan Prosecutor’s Office has reopened investigations into the unsolved case, reigniting hope for justice in one of Italy’s enduring mysteries from the “Years of Lead.” The decision, announced today, follows a formal request from Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala and a unanimous motion by the City Council, urging authorities to revisit the case of the two young militants gunned down on March 18, 1978, near the Leoncavallo social center in the Casoretto district.
Fausto Tinelli and Lorenzo Iannucci, known affectionately as Fausto and Iaio, were inseparable friends and active participants in Milan’s vibrant left-wing scene. Both frequented the Leoncavallo, a self-managed social center founded in 1975, which served as a hub for political activism, cultural events, and community initiatives. The two were reportedly compiling a report on the local heroin trade, linking it to neo-fascist groups, a pursuit that may have made them targets during a period marked by intense political violence.
On the evening of their murder, Fausto and Iaio left the Leoncavallo around 7:45 p.m., planning to dine at Tinelli’s home before returning for a jazz concert. At approximately 7:55 p.m., in Via Mancinelli, they were ambushed by three individuals, one reportedly wearing a light-colored raincoat. The assailants opened fire with a Beretta 34 pistol, firing eight 7.65mm rounds. Iannucci was killed instantly, while Tinelli, gravely wounded, died shortly after in hospital. The attackers fled, one dropping a weapon later recovered by police, though initial confusion over the absence of shell casings led to speculation about the firearm used.
The murder occurred just two days after the Red Brigades’ kidnapping of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro, a seminal event that heightened tensions across Italy. The timing fueled speculation of a connection, particularly due to the proximity of a Red Brigades safe house in Via Montenevoso to Tinelli’s family home. Fausto’s mother later claimed that their apartment building had been used by Italian intelligence to monitor the Red Brigades, suggesting her son may have been under surveillance. Another theory pointed to the neo-fascist underground, with a claim of responsibility from the “Revolutionary National Army – Franco Anselmi Combat Brigade” found in Rome days after the killings. Anselmi, a neo-fascist killed during a robbery weeks earlier, was linked to the far-right group Avanguardia Nazionale.
Despite extensive investigations spanning over two decades, the case was archived in December 2000 by Judge Clementina Forleo, who acknowledged “significant circumstantial evidence” pointing to the far-right, including ties to figures like Massimo Carminati, Mario Corsi, and Claudio Bracci of the Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari (NAR). However, the lack of definitive proof—referred to as the “prova regina” by investigators—prevented convictions. A Cremona-based lead, pursued by Digos officer Carmine Scotti, also failed to yield conclusive results, though it remains a focal point in the reopened probe.
The decision to reopen the case, approved by Judge Maria Idria Gurgo di Castelmenardo, stems from a new Digos report and a push for advanced forensic analysis. Prosecutors Leonardo Lesti and Francesca Crupi, from the anti-terrorism unit, had initially sought to inventory evidence, including the eight bullets and a bloodstained blue beret found at the scene. However, a recent setback revealed that these critical pieces of evidence have gone missing from the Milan Palace of Justice, a development former Judge Guido Salvini called “a serious blow” to the investigation. Salvini, who linked the Fausto and Iaio case to the 1980 murder of activist Valerio Verbano in Rome, has advocated for a law to preserve evidence in such cases.
The reopened investigation aims to explore new avenues, including ballistic comparisons with other far-right attacks from the era and potential testimony from former extremists or collaborators. Bruno Tinelli, Fausto’s brother, expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We know who the perpetrators are; it’s about finding the will to bring them to justice.” The Association of Relatives and Friends of Fausto and Iaio, alongside Milan’s community, continues to honor the duo’s memory through murals, gardens named in their honor, and cultural works like the play Viva L’Italia: Le morti di Fausto e Iaio.
As Italy grapples with the lingering scars of its turbulent past, the renewed probe into Fausto and Iaio’s murder offers a chance to resolve a painful chapter. Yet, with key evidence lost and witnesses scarce, the path to truth remains fraught. For now, Milan holds its breath, hoping that after 47 years, justice may finally prevail.
Sources: Il Giorno, La Repubblica, Agenzia Nova, Cremona Sera, Wikipedia