A judge found dead in 2022 is also under investigation for murder.

The death of Judge Francesca Ercolini, found lifeless in her home in Pesaro on December 26, 2022, has undergone significant scrutiny over the past four years. Initially presumed to be a suicide, recent developments have cast doubt on this conclusion. The Aquila Prosecution, which reopened the case following a complaint from Ercolini’s mother, now considers the possibility of murder. This shift comes after new forensic evaluations and an incident probatorio conducted in Rome, suggesting that the initial assumption about the cause of death might have been incorrect.

Central to these investigations is the analysis of marks on Ercolini's neck, which appear incompatible with the silk strip reportedly used in the original suicide scenario. According to the findings of Professor Vittorio Fineschi, who performed a new autopsy after the body was exhumed from the cemetery in Riccia, province of Campobasso, the injuries observed on the judge's neck do not align with the characteristics of the silk strip found tied to the internal staircase railing. These discrepancies have prompted investigators to reconsider the entire narrative surrounding her death.

Further complicating the situation is the potential simulation of the scene where Ercolini was discovered. Investigators suggest that the circumstances found by rescuers could have been staged to mimic a suicide rather than reflect the actual sequence of events leading to her death. One plausible alternative being explored is suffocation, although there remains uncertainty regarding the compatibility between the wounds on her body and the cables found in her home. To address these uncertainties, experts from the police scientific department plan to return to the house on Viale Zara in Pesaro to conduct further examinations and reconstructions.

The upcoming proceedings will take place before Judge Marco Billi during a hearing scheduled for September 22 in Aquila. This session aims to review the outcomes of the technical assessments and determine the direction of the investigation moving forward. The case involves six individuals under investigation, including Ercolini’s husband, the medical examiner who initially conducted the autopsy, and some members of law enforcement. The charges against them range from obstruction of justice to violations of confidentiality.

The initial assumption that Ercolini committed suicide stemmed from the discovery of her body by her husband, lawyer Lorenzo Ruggieri, and their teenage son. At the time, both the prosecution and forensic experts believed that she had hanged herself using the silk strip attached to the staircase railing. However, subsequent investigations into allegations of domestic violence, supported by messages, photographs, and videos sent by Ercolini to her family, led to a broader inquiry involving multiple parties.

As the investigation continues, the focus remains on reconciling the physical evidence with the narrative presented by the initial findings. The re-examination of the body and the environment in which Ercolini died has introduced new layers of complexity to the case. With the upcoming hearing, the legal process will seek clarity on whether the initial conclusions were accurate or if they need to be revised based on the latest forensic insights. This ongoing evaluation underscores the importance of thoroughness in determining the true nature of Ercolini’s death, ensuring that all possibilities are considered before reaching a definitive conclusion.