Enrico De Pedis, the leader of a murderous gang known as the Banda della Magliana, was gunned down aged just 38, by members of his own crew. Detectives investigating the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, 15, in 1983, believe De Pedis is linked to her kidnap.
The body of the Vatican employee’s daughter has never been found.
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.
Their decision was the result of an anonymous call to a missing person’s programme on Italian television which said the riddle of Orlandi’s kidnap would be solved ”if De Pedis tomb was opened”.
The church was ringed by police keeping back onlookers, as stonemasons arrived to perform their macabre task, accompanied by lawyers representing the De Pedis family and his widow.
A team of forensic scientists wearing overalls and masks was on hand as the tomb was opened with sources saying a ”foul stench” filled the air of the crypt, while outside a large crowd of onlookers gathered, mixing with priests from the next door college.
Officials said that De Pedis body was ”well preserved” and that he was recognised by detectives present. He was still dressed in a dark blue suit and black tie.
His body was inside the last of three coffins and the forensic team lifted his arm out of the casket to take fingerprints, which were a positive match.
But another mystery was revealed as a box of bones was found inside the tomb which officials said were ”not those of De Pedis” and were removed for examination.
Officials said that several boxes of bones were also recovered from elsewhere within the crypt which they explained could date from 200 or more years ago.
Despite his criminal past, it was said that church officials allowed De Pedis to be buried in one of the capital’s most notable churches because he had “repented while in jail and also done a lot of work for charity”, including large donations to the Catholic Church.
De Pedis, whose name on the the £12,000 tomb is spelt in diamonds, was gunned down in 1990 in Campo De Fiori, a central square that is a popular destination for tourists.
He and his gang controlled the lucrative drug market in Rome and were also rumoured to have a ”free hand” because of their links with police and Italian secret service agents.
The disappearance of Orlandi has produced few clues. After a mystery tip-off 12 years ago a skull was found in the confessional box of a Rome church and tests were carried out to see if it was Orlandi but they proved negative.
In 2008 Sabrina Minardi, De Pedis’s girlfriend at the time of Orlandi’s disappearance, sensationally claimed that the now dead American monsignor Paul Marcinkus, the controversial chief of the Vatican bank, was behind the kidnapping.
In the early 1980s, Monsignor Marcinkus used his status to avoid being questioned by police probing the collapse of a Banco Ambrosiano which the Vatican had invested heavily in.
The collapse was linked to the murder of Roberto Calvi, dubbed God’s Banker because of the Vatican links, whose body was found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London in June 1982.
Emanuela Orlandi’s brother Pietro, who in the past has accused the Vatican of not co-operating fully with the police and prosecutors, was at the scene and said: “I never expected my sister’s remains to be found in the coffin. Personally I also doubt that the Magliana gang had anything to do with my sister’s disappearance. I just hope that with the opening of the tomb there is transparency and collaboration between the investigating authorities and the Vatican.”
Maurilio Prioreschi, a lawyer representing the De Pedis family, said: ”His wife Carla has told me that once this operation is over she wishes that her husband’s remains are cremated or buried elsewhere. We now hope that this matter is closed.”
His body was inside the last of three coffins and the forensic team lifted his arm out of the casket to take fingerprints, which were a positive match.
But another mystery was revealed as a box of bones was found inside the tomb which officials said were ”not those of De Pedis” and were removed for examination.
Officials said that several boxes of bones were also recovered from elsewhere within the crypt which they explained could date from 200 or more years ago.
Despite his criminal past, it was said that church officials allowed De Pedis to be buried in one of the capital’s most notable churches because he had “repented while in jail and also done a lot of work for charity”, including large donations to the Catholic Church.
De Pedis, whose name on the the £12,000 tomb is spelt in diamonds, was gunned down in 1990 in Campo De Fiori, a central square that is a popular destination for tourists.
He and his gang controlled the lucrative drug market in Rome and were also rumoured to have a ”free hand” because of their links with police and Italian secret service agents.
The disappearance of Orlandi has produced few clues. After a mystery tip-off 12 years ago a skull was found in the confessional box of a Rome church and tests were carried out to see if it was Orlandi but they proved negative.
In 2008 Sabrina Minardi, De Pedis’s girlfriend at the time of Orlandi’s disappearance, sensationally claimed that the now dead American monsignor Paul Marcinkus, the controversial chief of the Vatican bank, was behind the kidnapping.
In the early 1980s, Monsignor Marcinkus used his status to avoid being questioned by police probing the collapse of a Banco Ambrosiano which the Vatican had invested heavily in.
The collapse was linked to the murder of Roberto Calvi, dubbed God’s Banker because of the Vatican links, whose body was found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London in June 1982.
Emanuela Orlandi’s brother Pietro, who in the past has accused the Vatican of not co-operating fully with the police and prosecutors, was at the scene and said: “I never expected my sister’s remains to be found in the coffin. Personally I also doubt that the Magliana gang had anything to do with my sister’s disappearance. I just hope that with the opening of the tomb there is transparency and collaboration between the investigating authorities and the Vatican.”
Maurilio Prioreschi, a lawyer representing the De Pedis family, said: ”His wife Carla has told me that once this operation is over she wishes that her husband’s remains are cremated or buried elsewhere. We now hope that this matter is closed.”