ROME
The Telegraph (United Kingdom)
A murdered gangster’s tomb is to be opened by Italian police today in an attempt to unravel a 30 year old mystery worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.
By Nick Pisa, in Rome
9:11AM BST 14 May 2012
Enrico De Pedis, leader of a murderous gang known as the Banda della Magliana, was gunned down aged just 38, by members of his outfit after they fell out.
Detectives investigating the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, 15, in 1983, believe De Pedis is linked to her kidnap and the body of the Vatican employee’s daughter has never been found.
Last month the diocese of Rome, on orders from the Vatican, granted investigators permission to open up the tomb in the Sant’Apollinare basilica close to Piazza Navona in the centre of Rome.
This morning (mon) the church was ringed by police keeping back onlookers, as stonemasons arrived to open the tomb, accompanied by lawyers representing the De Pedis family and his widow.
It is not clear whether they expect to find Orlandi’s remains in the tomb or documents that could shed light on her disappearance.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.