Italy is once again grappling with the horror of femicide following the discovery of the body of 22-year-old student Ilaria Sula. She had been missing since 25 March, and on Wednesday, her remains were found stuffed in a suitcase in the countryside near Rome. Autopsy results released on Thursday confirmed that she died from haemorrhagic shock after being stabbed three times in the neck.
The primary suspect, 23-year-old Mark Antony Samson, has confessed to the murder. A Filipino-Italian architecture graduate, Samson was detained and charged with homicide and concealment of a corpse. Authorities believe he killed Sula in his Rome apartment before disposing of her body in a wooded area near the Lazio town of Poli.
The murder allegedly took place at the height of an argument, and Samson’s parents were reportedly at home at the time. Investigators, led by Deputy Prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini, are now scrutinising their role. While the couple is not yet formally under investigation, authorities are working to determine whether they had any involvement in covering up the crime.
A Timeline with Gaps
The exact time and date of Sula’s death remain unclear. The last known contact from her was a voice message sent on the evening of 25 March. Nearly 22 hours later, at around 6 PM on 26 March, a speed camera captured Samson’s car near the site where her body was later found. While the footage confirms the vehicle’s presence, it does not indicate whether Samson was alone or if others were involved in disposing of the body.
Authorities believe Sula was murdered in Samson’s bedroom, where traces of blood were discovered. Investigators are examining whether anyone helped clean the scene and pack the victim’s body into the suitcase. If evidence suggests an accomplice, additional charges of aiding in the concealment of a corpse could follow.
Adding to the deception, in the days after the murder, Samson allegedly used Sula’s phone to post misleading messages on her social media accounts, falsely suggesting she was still alive.
The murder weapon, believed to be a knife, has not yet been recovered. A blade was found in Samson’s home, but initial examinations suggest it was not the one used in the attack. The suspect claims he discarded the knife in a dumpster, and forensic teams continue to search for it.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Samson remains in custody at Rome’s Regina Coeli prison. His judicial hearing is scheduled for Friday, where his legal defence will be evaluated. So far, he has mostly remained silent in interrogations, apart from admitting to the crime and revealing the location of the suitcase. He has also reportedly expressed remorse, simply stating, “I ask for forgiveness for what I have done.”
Sula’s murder has reignited concerns about violence against women in Italy. Her tragic case adds to a grim pattern of femicide, prompting renewed calls for stronger protections and justice for victims.
