Urban explorers found a skull and a bra in a crumbling tower house just a few hundred yards from the home of Daniela Ruggi, who vanished in September 2024, with DNA tests now underway
Two urban explorers have stumbled upon a skull and a bra in a crumbling tower house of a woman who has been missing for over 15 months. The urbexers ventured into the unstable structure last Thursday, 1 Jan, despite the potential danger of it collapsing.
Inside they discovered an almost intact skull, a clump of hair or fur entwined with mud, and a bra conspicuously placed at the entrance. The building is situated just a few hundred yards from the home of Daniela Ruggi, who mysteriously disappeared on 18 September 2024.
Her abrupt disappearance led to extensive yet unsuccessful searches in the surrounding woods and ravines. Alarmingly the ruin in Vitriola – a small village in Italy’s Modena province – had already been examined six times by authorities.
One hypothesis suggests the items were only recently placed there. DNA tests are currently being conducted to ascertain if the remains belong to the missing 32-year-old, with investigators strongly suspecting they do. Domenico Lanza, from nearby Polinago, is the prime suspect in Daniela’s disappearance.
As one of the last people to see her before she vanished, he was interrogated by police, and a search of his home revealed several unregistered firearms, leading to his arrest in December 2024.
He spent three months in custody and later received an 18-month suspended sentence. However, no solid evidence has surfaced linking the 68-year-old to Daniela’s disappearance.
In recent weeks, his solicitor, Fausto Gianelli, moved to have the case dismissed, describing the allegations against his client as “unfounded”.
Alberto Ruggi’s home, who is Daniela’s brother, was also raided in recent months. A mate of the vanished woman told journalists she had witnessed Alberto seize Daniela on at least two occasions during rows. He refutes these allegations.
On the day Daniela disappeared, she was rushed to A&E with a minor infection. Following her discharge, CCTV footage showed her exiting the hospital. Her mobile has remained switched off and out of contact ever since. Solicitor Guido Sola informed local press: “At the moment, her mother does not wish to make any statements. The hope is that those poor remains are not her beloved daughter’s.”
The Daily Star previously reported a man had been arrested by police after he was found in a storm tunnel holding a human skull. Officers later believe they found bits of human flesh on a nearby rock, prompting a horrific murder probe.
Police in South Africa were left stunned when the man was discovered by a member of the public seemingly holding the hollowed out head. It was also revealed other people were also attacked by the man in question, and officers quickly detained him.
Now, officers are working to piece together the events led to the man being spotted holding the skull and what he could have done with the rest of the body. However, grim and horrific details continue to be released surrounding the case.