A Greek court has approved the extradition of a 46-year-old American man accused of murdering his Russian partner and their baby daughter in Rome.
Francis Kaufmann is suspected of killing 28-year-old Anastasia Trofimova and 11-month-old Andromeda in Villa Pamphili, one of the Italian capital’s largest parks. The deaths occurred earlier this month.
Kaufmann, a would-be film director from California, was arrested on the Greek island of Skiathos on June 11. He had flown there from Italy using his own credit card.
He is currently being held in Larissa, Greece, and may still appeal the extradition ruling.
During a court appearance by video link this week, Kaufmann denied the charges. “I am innocent: I didn’t kill them,” he said, requesting contact with his lawyer and the US consulate.
Italian investigators believe Kaufmann, Trofimova, and the child had been living rough in Villa Pamphili for at least two weeks, sleeping outdoors and eating near the San Silverio market.
The mother is believed to have been killed between June 3 and 4, though the cause of death remains unclear. No obvious injuries were found on her body, and further tests are underway.
The baby was strangled on the evening of June 6. Her body was discovered under a plastic sheet, naked and near a hedge, around 200 metres from where her mother was found.
Kaufmann was seen wandering Rome with the child for two days after the suspected murder of Trofimova. On June 5, he was stopped by police near Largo Argentina while drunk and holding the baby. He used one of several aliases—Rexal Ford—when showing his passport.
Authorities believe he tried to destroy evidence over the following days.
Evasive and provocative
The investigation is being led by Rome’s Flying Squad and deputy prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini.
Kaufmann is accused of double homicide. Italian police continue to examine the suspect’s movements and finances, including the three credit cards found in his possession, to determine whether Villa Pamphili was his only base in Rome.
Investigators describe Kaufmann’s behaviour as evasive and provocative. During questioning, he reportedly spoke of a “plot” against him and refused to cooperate.
The Greek court now has 60 days to formalise the extradition order, though the process may be delayed by appeals.
