“I was kidnapped by two men, they wanted to kill me.” On Saturday, around 10pm, Milena Santirocco showed up at the entrance of the Nacca café, in the center of Castel Volturno (Caserta). Trembling, wet, partially covered in leaves, with obvious signs of wounds on her wrists she begged: “Let me call my children.” She explained that she was the 54 year old from Lanciano that everyone had been looking for for a week.
If his disappearance was a mystery, many aspects remain to be clarified regarding the unexpected happy ending. For this reason the woman was taken to the police station in Lanciano, where it was listened to for seven hours. Only later was he able to meet his two children and his sister, Sonia. The investigators and the deputy Silvia Di Nunzio do not comment on her indiscretions regarding her story. “I can only say that she is well and has returned to her family,” said the prosecutor as she left the police station.
It is certain, however, that even before the woman showed up in front of the bar in Castel Volturno, the investigation hypothesis had already been changed: no longer voluntary removal, but kidnapping by unknown persons. Probably a “technical” expedient to be able to investigate across the board. But the lawyer Antonio Cozza, who assists the family, is categorical: «Milena did not leave voluntarily. The Prosecutor’s Office is now trying to clarify what happened in recent days.” No comment from the Penelope association, which deals with missing persons and which collaborated in the search for the dance teacher who disappeared on April 29, in the Sangro area of Turin. Here her car was found with a punctured tire. Cell phone unreachable, Facebook profile mysteriously closed.
Where was she held these seven days? And by whom? She said she was kidnapped right in the area where her cell phone was last connected. «I was kidnapped by two hooded men – he reported -. They forced me into a car and took me to a pond where they tried to drown me.” Milena said she saved herself by pretending to be dead, then managing to escape. The employees of the Castel Volturno coffee shop confirm that she introduced herself asking to call, but they say nothing else.
Some of Milena’s friends met in front of her house yesterday: “She has never told lies, we can’t wait to hug her again.” But the investigators are looking for confirmation of her story and trying to put a face to the mysterious kidnappers. She is also hunting for her cell phone. Lawyer Cozza, who did not participate in Milena’s deposition, as she was heard as a person informed of the facts, only met her in the evening. «He’s fine – he says to Courier —, even if she is very tired and worn out. There are ongoing investigations, but I can confirm that it was not a voluntary removal. She also told me that when she freed herself she didn’t even realize she was in Castel Volturno».
