Case shocked Italy at ChristmasMother (50) and daughter (15) poisoned at a feast – investigators have a possible motive!

Mother and daughter killed with ricin at Christmas – investigators have new leads

It's been a good month since investigators detected the poison ricin in the blood of Antonella Di Ielsi and her daughter Sara Di Vita. Since then it has been clear: mother and daughter were murdered and did not die of food poisoning, as initially assumed. Now, according to the Italian Rai News, investigators believe they have come closer to a possible motive. Accordingly, a dispute in the family environment could be the reason for the alleged double murder.

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The investigators have not yet revealed much more. All that is known is that the trail apparently leads to the closest circle of the family. Five people are said to have had contact with the victims in the days before the fatal collapse. What exactly could be behind the possible family dispute currently remains unclear.

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Ricin murder of mother and daughter in Italy: routers and cell phones in focus

The digital trail is now particularly important for the investigators: the investigators seized several devices in the family home, including cell phones, computers, tablets and two routers.

The routers in particular could become important. You may be able to use them to see which devices logged into the family's WiFi on the crucial days. The investigators want to reconstruct who could have been nearby and when.

Mother and daughter die after feast – which happened on Christmas 2025

The case shocked Italy around Christmas 2025. On the evening of December 23rd, the family ate together in Pietracatella in southern Italy. On the table there were, among other things, mussels, mushrooms and fish. Shortly afterwards, Antonella Di Ielsi, her 15-year-old daughter Sara and father Gianni Di Vita became ill. At first it all seemed like food poisoning.

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On December 25th and 26th, the family sought medical attention at the hospital. However, mother and daughter were initially sent home with suspected food poisoning. A fatal misjudgment: Antonella and Sara died on the night of December 27th to 28th. Gianni Di Vita also had to be treated but survived.

Later the case took a dramatic turn. In the blood samples of the two dead, experts found ricin, a highly dangerous poison from the seeds of the miracle tree. What was supposed to be food poisoning turned into a suspected double murder. The investigation is ongoing.

Sources used: RAI, La Repubblica, La Stampa