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Luigi Richetto

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Luigi Richetto
Group photo with Luigi Richetto
Born
Gioanni-Luigi Richetto

(1853-03-22)March 22, 1853
Chianocco, Italy
DiedDecember 14, 1901(1901-12-14) (aged 48)
Devil's Island, Salvation Islands, French Guiana
Conviction(s)Murder x2
Theft x3
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
Victims4 (2 convictions)
Span of crimes
1893–1899
CountryFrance
State(s)Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Date apprehended
January 9, 1900

Gioanni-Luigi Richetto (March 22, 1853 - December 14, 1901) was an Italian serial killer who murdered and dismembered four people in Lyon, France between 1893 and 1899.[1][2] He was arrested on January 9, 1900 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1901; he was sent to serve his sentence at the Salvation Islands in French Guiana, where he died a few months later.[3]

Biography

Gioanni-Luigi Richetto was born on March 22, 1853 in Chianocco, Italy, the son of Luigi Richetto and Maddalena Giai. He was baptized the following day in the church of San Pietro Apostolo.

His father, having spent all of his inheritance in "gambling, wine and debauchery" left for Turin and found a job in the tapestry section of the Royal House, from where he was sent back in 1866 or 1867, for theft of silver lamps in the Chapelle de Saint-Suaire.[4] In May 1872, again detained for theft, he was declared as suffering from mania and dementia and admitted to the Royal Asylum of Aliénes in Turin, where he died on January 14, 1873.[5][6] Richetto's mother would eventually also be admitted to that same asylum on January 11, 1881, diagnosed as suffering from "hysterical madness in a melancholic form", dying there on September 17, 1882.

Gioanni-Luigi followed his father in Turin in 1863, finishing his studies there at the Professional School. After graduating, he found a job at the Railway Company of Upper Italy.

In 1882, he was arrested and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for robbery, serving his sentence at Fossano prison.[7]

On his release in September 1887, he stayed with his mother's family in Bussoleno for several months.[8] After borrowing some money from his sister, Luigi left for France.[9] He first passed through Algeria, then Marseille and finally Lyon, where he settled on December 15, 1887.[10]

In 1888, he found a job as a nurse. When his patient died, his employers brought them to their trading house as a servant. He was fired on December 16, 1893, after he was caught stealing wine from the cellar, but he avoided prosecution for the crime.

Richetto then became an apprentice shoemaker, setting up his own shop in April 1894. In June 1896, he became a concierge in the house of the Camillians, on 96 Route de Francheville.

Discovery of bodies and arrest

On January 2, 1900, two packages containing strange meat were found on the Noack property on 116 Route de Francheville.[11] Two days later, in the presence of a rural policeman, a third package was found. A butcher misidentified the meat as veal, and the packages were reburied on site.[12]

On January 5, the property was searched again, and three additional bundles and a severed human torso were discovered.

The following day, in the presence of examining magistrate Alexandre Lacassagne, the property was extensively dug up, uncovering packages containing two human heads.[13] Both of them had been wrapped up in newspapers dated from April to August 1897, and pieces of cloth.

Lacassagne's report from that day described the following:

"1st. the remains of a woman consisting of a skull with hair, a pelvis, a portion of the spine.

a. The skull is that of a woman around 60 to 70 years of age. The lower jaw is missing. The hair is grey; there is a fake braid consisting a bun impregnated with carbonaceous dust.

b. The pelvis is complete: there are two femurs, cut precisely with a saw.

The transformations of muscles and tissues into adipocere shows a stay in water of more than a year.

2nd. Sixteen fragments constitute the almost complete body of a toothless woman of about 60 years of age, weighing about 70 kilograms. This woman was small and very plump: she would have been recognized as a milkmaid from the country who came this morning accompanied by a gardener. The hepatic docimasia test allows us to say this woman died in full digestion.

In addition, a blunt instrument wound to the upper part of the skull on the vertex shows that this woman was knocked out with a blunt instrument such as a hammer.

On the left breast, there are numerous bruises produced in the living or during the agonic period, which seem to indicate strong pressures and as a strangely special mark.[14] On January 8th, Marceline Luce-Catinot recognized the head exhibited in the morgue as that of her mother, Augustine Penet. She stated that in the neighborhood where the body was found, she only knew a certain Louis, who worked as a janitor for a local branch of the Camillians.[15]

Following a quick search of Richetto's home on the next day, the policemen found issues of the newspaper L'Autorité, dating from the same period as the ones used to wrap Mrs. Penet's remains. Having learned that Richetto had served time in Italy, the deputy requested his arrest. During the complete search that followed, many bloodstains were found on the floor between two rooms, women's stocking marked AC, and a receipt signed "Madame Delorme". Behind Richetto's lodge, a large quantity of lime mixed with sawdust was discovered.[16] Other compromising clues were also found: a 34-cm long kitchen knife, stuck in the ground on the Camillian property,[17] a suitcase emitting a foul odor and stained with lime and sawdust.[18] After examining the attic, the authorities found that it had been saturated with blood and human fat.

On January 26, more human remains were found in hedge on Chemin des Graviers, in Saint-Fons.[19]

Victims

In the course of the investigation, Luigi Richetto was implicated in the murders of four people:

Marie Bernaz

François Marie Lucien Bernaz, born in 1811, married Marie Pierrette Couturier (born in 1828) in Lyon on October 18, 1849.[20] The couple temporarily moved to South America, residing in Buenos Aires and then Montevideo.[21] They returned to France at the beginning of 1890. Luigi Richetto had done some odd jobs for them, and was even provided accommodation on the ground floor of 55 Cours Gambetta.[22]

On April 24, 1893, François, unable to enter his wife's locked room, asked a neighbor to go through the window. Both of them then discovered Mrs. Bernaz's body

"lying on her back and resting fully clothed on the floor. Her face was covered in blood and bore marks of blows to the temple as well as scratches around the neck".[23]

On April 29, Richetto was questioned in the case, but managed to provide himself with an alibi and was released. For some time, suspicion fell on the husband, but the proceedings were quickly dropped and the case was closed.

Régis Planial

Planial, a 55-year-old furniture dealer, disappeared from his home at 68 Rue Montesquieu on December 7, 1894, leaving the door open and the lamp on. His concierge reported the disappearance the next day.[24] Four days later, a sailor fishing in the Rhône near the island of Pierre-Bénite, off the coast of Saint-Fons, found a bag containing the upper half of a human torso.[25]

On April 21, 1895, a man exploring Badet Island in La Roche-de-Glun found human remains, consisting of the pelvis and the upper half of the thighs.[26] On November 20, the victim's left leg was discovered in Le Pouzin.[27]

Five days after that, a fisherman found the right leg on the shore of Sainte Island, in Saint-Rambert-d'Albon.[28] Dr. Lacassagne's report established that all of the remains belonged to the same male cadaver. The individual was between 168 and 174 cms tall, and between 45 and 60 years of age.

Several penetrative wounds were noted, made by a long, sharp instrument, such as a sword. The neck also bore marks from strangulation, and the beheading had taken placed while the victim was either still alive or had just died.

Marguerite Long

Marguerite Long, the 63-year-old widow of Auguste Delorme, a retailer, disappeared from her home on 27 Rue des Trois-Pierres on July 21, 1898.[29] Her neighbors suspected that she had been murdered in an ambush for her money, but police found no evidence to support that theory.

Richetto had visited her home on several occasions, with Marguerite herself claiming that she was going to visit Saint-Just just days before she vanished.[30] After Richetto's arrest, several items belonging to Long were found, including a silver snuff box.

Augustine Penet

Richetto first met the victim around 1892. He won her trust, and even helped her acquite her dairy fund. Augustine had visited him several times, and on December 19, 1899, the day of her disappearance, she had spoken to several people about her plans to visit Saint-Just. It was determined that she had been hit in the head with a blunt instrument and then stabbed five times, before the killer violently stomped on her chest.Three days after she had vanished, Richetto made numerous purchases which overextended his modest salary.

Trial, imprisonment and death

Due to lack of evidence concerning the murder of Bernaz, Richetto wasn't charged in her death.[31] The human body parts found in the Rhône in 1894 and 1895 couldn't be formally identified as those of Planial, and thusly, Richetto wasn't charged with his death either.

Therefore, he was indicted for the following crimes:

  1. in Lyon on December 16, 1893, the fraudulent subtraction of a quantity of wine, to the detriment of Monsieuers Guigue and Jovet;
  2. in Lyon on July 21, 1898, the premeditated homicide of Marguerite Long née Delorme, in order to facilitate the fraudulent evasion stated below;
  3. in Lyon on July 21, 1898, the fraudulent subtraction of various objects, to the detriment of the aforementioned Marguerite Long née Delorme;
  4. in Lyon on December 19, 1899, the premeditated homicide of Augustine Penet née Luce-Catinot, in order to facilitate the fraudulent transaction stated below;
  5. in Lyon on December 19, 1899, the fraudulent transcation of various objects, to the detriment of the aforementioned Augustine Penet née Luce-Catinot.

After the trial, the jury found him guilty on a majority of the charges, and Luigi Richetto was sentenced to life imprisonment.[32] His appeal was dismissed on May 10, 1901.[33]

On June 29, 1901, he was sent to the Devil's Island prison colony in the Salvation Islands in French Guiana. He died there on December 14, 1901, aged 48.[34]

Criminology

Deux squelettes dans une vitrine.
Reconstitution of the skeletons of Richetto's victims at the Testut-Latarjet Museum in Rillieux-la-Pape
  • Alexandre Lacassagne took a particular interest in Richetto, after meeting him at trial. He would eventually convinced him to write an autobiography.[35] Richetto wrote a 117-page long memoir entitled "The Memoirs of Richetto", done between July 14 and 21, 1901, during his trial.[36]
  • The victims' skeletons were reconstructed at the Testut-Latarjet Museum in Rillieux-la-Pape, and remain on display there.[37]

See also

References

  1. ^ Baptismal extract, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  2. ^ Stora-Lamarre 2002, p. 94 (in French)
  3. ^ "The crime of Lyon". L'Ouest-Éclair (in French) (160). January 11, 1900. ISSN 1261-6249. Retrieved December 22, 2013..
  4. ^ Letter from the Royal Questure of Turin, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  5. ^ Report on the mental state of Luigi Richetto, by Dr. Rebatel and Pro. Boyer, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  6. ^ Letter from the Royal Asylum of Alienes in Turin (June 28, 1900), Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  7. ^ Judgment of the Cour'd Assizes of Turin against Luigi Richetto, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  8. ^ Deposition of Giovanna Rassida, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  9. ^ Deposition of Francesca Rubella, cousin of Gioanni-Luigi Richetto, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  10. ^ Notes and instructions of March 19, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  11. ^ Hearing of witnesses Derville, Lacroix and Renaud, January 8, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  12. ^ Hearing of witnesses Ruet and Simonet, January 8, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  13. ^ Report on the discovery of a corpse by gendarmes Maillet and Parenthoux on January 6, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  14. ^ Report by Dr Lacassagne dated January 7, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644 (in French)
  15. ^ Deposition of Marceline Luce-Catinot on January 8, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  16. ^ Transports and Findings, 9–11 January 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  17. ^ Trial February 7, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 646. (in French)
  18. ^ Trial February 15, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 646. (in French)
  19. ^ Report of transport dated January 26, 1900, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 646. (in French)
  20. ^ "Marriage certificate François Marie Lucien Bernaz and Marie Pierrette Couturier". Archives de Lyon 2 E 442 (in French). October 18, 1849. Retrieved May 1, 2017..
  21. ^ Deposition of François Marie Lucien Bernaz, dated May 16, 1893, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  22. ^ Deposition of Louis Richetto, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  23. ^ Report from the examining magistrate, dated April 25, 1893, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  24. ^ Deposition of Annette Butin, dated December 8, 1894, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  25. ^ Report by gendarmes Personne, Suzzoni and Pouccat, dated December 11, 1894, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  26. ^ Trial report on April 22, 1895, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  27. ^ Report by Dr Lacassagne, dated April 29, 1896, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  28. ^ Trial report dated November 21, 1895, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 645. (in French)
  29. ^ Report by Special Commissioner Edmond Sech, dated September 2, 1898, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 644. (in French)
  30. ^ Indictment dated March 27, 1901, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 646. (in French)
  31. ^ Requisition dated March 9, 1901, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 646. (in French)
  32. ^ Jury report dated June 29, 1901, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 646. (in French)
  33. ^ Notification dated May 10, 1901, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 646. (in French)
  34. ^ Verdict dated June 29, 1901, Arch. dép. Rhône 2 U 194. (in French)
  35. ^ Kalifa, Dominique (September 14, 2000). "Inked blood". Libération (in French). Retrieved December 21, 2013..
  36. ^ Artières, Philippe (2000). The Book of Guilty Lives (in French). Albin Michel. p. 432. ISBN 978-2-226-19909-6..
  37. ^ "Médecine légale et anthropologie criminelle". museetl.univ-lyon1.fr..

Bibliography

This book takes up and presents the writings of Richetto.
This article discussed the Richetto case.
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