In 2024, over 90 femicides were recorded, five of which occurred in the last week alone. This tragic situation highlights a worrying trend: the increase in victims over 70, often killed by partners after long unions. Between January 1 and October 20 of this year, 89 femicides were documented. Of these victims, 77 were murdered in family or emotional contexts, with 48 of them killed by partners or ex-partners. Data provided by the Ministry of the Interior show a decrease in the total number of victims, which went from 100 to 89, corresponding to a drop of 11%. Crimes that occurred within the family also saw a decline: cases dropped from 82 to 77 (-6%), while femicides by partners or ex-partners decreased from 53 to 48 (-9%).

A significant change concerns the age of the victims: about a fifth of femicides in 2024 affected women over 70, often murdered by their husbands after decades of marriage. Among the most emblematic stories is that of Serenella Mugnai, a 72-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s, killed by her husband Alessandro Sacchi; or Elisa Scavone, murdered by her husband Luciano Sofia in Turin. Another case is that of Rosetta Romano, strangled and suffocated by her authoritarian husband after years at his side. Rosa D’Ascenzo and Lucia Felici also suffered the same violent fate at the hands of their husbands. Finally, Annarita Morelli was shot and killed by her husband.

In the last week, there have been five more femicides. Marina Cavalieri, a 62-year-old retired nurse, was found lifeless in her home; her husband was later tracked down and arrested for murder. Flavia Mello Agonigi, a 54-year-old woman who disappeared in Pontedera (Pisa), was found dead after being stabbed by Emanuele Nannetti, who then threw her body into a cistern.

Giovanna Chinnici, fatally shot by her brother-in-law Giuseppe Caputo during an argument in Nova Milanese (Monza), died in hospital after being seriously injured. Another tragic episode occurred on October 18 when Celeste Palmieri was murdered by her husband Mario Furio outside the supermarket; the woman was seeking separation and was the mother of five children.

Finally, Lucian Tuduran committed a similar murder on the same day against his ex-partner Carmela Ion in Civitavecchia: she was attacked and suffocated while she had no way of receiving alerts on the electronic bracelet worn by the man.

The analysis of the data suggests that despite the overall decrease in femicides compared to the previous year, there is still much work to be done to address this dramatic phenomenon that continues to claim victims among Italian women.