The True Story of Monster of Florence: Who He Was & How Many Victims He Had

Nivedita Dubey
October 26, 2025

Summary

The Monster of Florence terrorised the outskirts of Florence, Italy between 1968 and 1985, targeting young couples in secluded locations.
The killer used a .22-calibre handgun (often a Beretta) and in several cases mutilated the female victims after the shooting.
Although the exact identity of the Monster remains unknown, the official count of confirmed victims is 16 (eight double murders) and a major dramatisation of the case premiered on Netflix on 22 October 2025.

The Monster of Florence case stands as one of Italy’s most chilling unsolved serial-killer sagas. Over nearly two decades, a mysterious assailant hunted couples parked in the countryside around Florence, leaving behind a trail of terror and unanswered questions. A new four-part limited series on Netflix has brought renewed attention to the crimes, the investigation and the enduring mystery of who exactly murdered those young lovers.

What Were the Crimes of the Monster of Florence?

The Monster of Florence _ Official Trailer _ Netflix

The Monster of Florence operated in a distinct pattern: between 1968 and 1985, the killer struck in remote, wooded lanes outside the city of Florence, often under the cover of darkness or during a new moon.

Victims were typically young couples in parked cars. The male partner was shot first, followed by the woman, and then in multiple cases the woman’s body was mutilated—particularly her pubic region. The weapon used throughout virtually all the murders was a .22-calibre handgun, often identified as a Beretta.

Here are some of the known murders:

Antonio Lo Bianco (29) and Barbara Locci (32) — August 1968
Pasquale Gentilcore (19) & Stefania Pettini (18) — September 1974
Giovanni Foggi (30) & Carmela De Nuccio (21) — June 1981; De Nuccio’s pubic area was cut out.
…and others through 1985.

In total, the official tally is 16 confirmed victims (eight separate double-homicides).

Why Is the Monster of Florence Still Unidentified?

Despite decades of investigation, multiple arrests and controversial trials, no single person has ever been definitively convicted for all the murders attributed to the Monster of Florence.

Over the years, several suspects emerged:

Pietro Pacciani was convicted in a first-instance trial for seven of the eight double murders in 1994, later acquitted on appeal in 1996.
Two of his alleged accomplices, Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti, were eventually sentenced in 2000 for four of the murders.

Complicating matters further: ballistic links, DNA tests, witness statements and theories about satanic cults and secret societies all emerged — but none provided a conclusive answer.

Because of this, the identity of the Monster remains officially unknown. Some experts believe the killer may be deceased by now, given how long ago the murders occurred.

When and Where Did the Netflix Series “The Monster of Florence” Premiere?

The four-part limited series titled The Monster of Florence (Italian: Il Mostro) was released globally on Netflix on 22 October 2025.
The show was created by renowned Italian crime-director Stefano Sollima (known for Gomorrah) and writer Leonardo Fasoli.
Filming took place in and around Florence (including Signa, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Campi Bisenzio) — the same geographic region where the real‐life killings occurred.

Source: The Cosmopolitan