Man took personal life after dad advised him how ‘Hitler would’ve handled homosexual individuals’

A devoted and proud son plunged off a cliff after grappling with his family’s inability to accept his homosexuality, an inquest heard. The inquiry into the death of “lovely, kind” Fabio Pedranzini was informed that he was reported missing to Devon and Cornwall Police after vanishing from the holiday caravan he shared with his partner Mark Riley at Upton Towans near Gwithian, Hayle, last year.

The Truro inquest heard last week how the 55-year-old Italian national, who held a senior role at Fujitsu overseeing 300 people, was found dead at the bottom of a cove in Cornwall, beneath where his phone and other possessions were discovered two days after he went missing on March 21, 2025.

His body was retrieved after being sighted by a police drone on the second day of a multi-agency search on March 23 last year, close to where his Apple Watch had last signalled his location.

Fabio’s partner Mark Riley told the hearing, held on May 12, how the pair had been together for 18 months after initially meeting online. As their friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship, they made plans to cohabit, reports Cornwall Live.

In his statement to the court, Mr Riley said: “Fabio was a lovely person. He was so kind and saw the best in everyone.

“He was so proud of his family and of the hard work his dad did all his life. He loved his parents very much.”

Mr Riley said Fabio had only revealed his homosexuality to his family after being wed to a woman for 30 years approximately eight years before his death, which he said placed enormous pressure on his relationship with his parents.

He said Fabio’s family would not acknowledge his sexuality and he urged him to be honest with them and have a conversation with his father. He told the inquest that Fabio’s family did not appear happy for him that the couple would be relocating together.

“His sexuality was an embarrassment to his family,” Mr Riley said. “They told him he would be disowned. They didn’t want him to bring me with him to Italy. Fabio’s dad had been his rock in his life and that was hard for Fabio.”

A senior figure at Fujitsu, Fabio was a highly-respected employee managing 300 people across multiple teams.

The inquest heard how the troubled relationship with his family became extremely challenging for Fabio and as the months went by he became delusional and increasingly paranoid.

Mr Riley added: “Fabio went to Italy to mend things with his family. He spoke to his dad about everything but his dad encouraged him to have a relationship with another woman. He told him how Hitler would have dealt with gay people.

“His mum was ashamed to be seen walking around with him. By the time we went on holiday in Cornwall Fabio looked wrecked. He was in turmoil about everything going on with his family. He needed to rest.” He told the inquest that when the duo reached the caravan park Fabio experienced a paranoid episode and even vanished for three hours only to return cold and drenched.

He said after being told that Fabio’s body had been found at the bottom of a cliff he had to go back home to Surrey and discovered notes left by Fabio saying he was sorry to everyone for everything and that he “wanted to get out of the dark place he was in”.

In a statement read out at the inquest on behalf of Fabio’s family, his sister Cristiana and his ex wife Antonella said Fabio was the “most generous and thoughtful person who cared about the well being of people around him”.

They said Fabio had a strong work ethic and took pride in his career and in his work.

“His ability to deliver complex projects and his commitment to getting the job well done was endless,” they told the hearing.

Cristiana added: “Outside work Fabio loved food and cooking, wine and design. He loved his garden at home. He created calm and beauty all around him. Fabio found joy in the little things. He was trusting and caring and generous. His family meant a great deal to him.”

Fabio’s Italian relatives told the inquest how in the months leading up to his death they found him withdrawn and he lost weight. They said they believed it was his relationship with Mark which caused a change in his behaviour. They informed the hearing: “It was evident that Fabio was under considerable emotional strain during that period. He gave up many aspects of his life, like his hobbies, interests and friends. He was fading away.”

Fabio’s family expressed how they could see his loneliness and told the hearing that the 55 year old had wanted to reach out to people from his past to make amends.

“Fabio was a strong, intelligent and sensitive man who was adverse to conflict,” they added. “He became isolated. His death followed a period of degradation in his emotional wellbeing.”

The inquest also learned that Fabio had been employed at Fujitsu during the time of the Post Office scandal, which may have added extra stress to his life.

A post-mortem report concluded that Fabio died from multiple injuries consistent with a fall from a great height and his death would have been instantaneous.

A police report found no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement in Fabio’s death. A CID investigation discovered that Fabio’s mental health had been deteriorating and he had paranoid thoughts that may have contributed to his decision to end his life.

Andrew Cox, the senior coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, stated that Fabio had been experiencing a lot of stress for various reasons. He said the last phone call Fabio made to Mr RIley had been minutes before his death and the phone and other items were found above where his body was later located.

Mr Cox stated: “It is shortly after ending that call that it is more likely than not that Fabio took his own life and intended to do so.”

The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide.

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