In a highly anticipated interview airing on Italia 1's "Le Iene presentano: Inside," Alberto Stasi, the man convicted for the murder of Chiara Poggi, expressed a mix of hope and anxiety regarding the ongoing investigation into the case that has haunted the small town of Garlasco since 2007. Stasi, who has served time for the crime, remarked, "It is a tsunami of emotions, let’s call it that. I hope we can reach the truth, to justice for Chiara, especially for her family and for everyone. This is something I care deeply about, but I am mainly waiting for developments."
Chiara Poggi was tragically killed on August 13, 2007, in her family's villa, a case that has recently resurfaced due to new investigative efforts focusing on Andrea Sempio, a friend of the victim's brother. This renewed inquiry has reignited discussions not only about the murder but also about the unsettling pattern of suicides that occurred in Garlasco shortly after Chiara's death.
Stasi, who was sentenced for the crime in 2015, emphasized his desire for the truth to come out, stating, "What I have in my heart is that the truth comes to light, that everything that needs to emerge does so, which has not yet emerged. Nothing else." He also mentioned his unfamiliarity with Sempio, asserting, "I don’t know him; I’ve only seen him now and in 2017. He was a friend of the brother and, therefore, from an age point of view, totally outside my circle of friends and acquaintances, so I’ve never seen him, never heard from him."
As he awaits the outcome of the new investigation, Stasi is also considering applying for probation, which could allow him to return home. He explained, "In a few months, I could ask for probation and finally go home; these few months do not make a difference for me. I have deeper motivations, it would be much more important for me, for my family, and for Chiara to find the truth." Stasi described his current life in prison as conforming to a typical workday, stating, "I leave in the morning, go to the office, have a lunch break, colleagues, work, and then return in the evening."
The reopening of the investigation has also brought to light the disturbing phenomenon of at least eight suicides in Garlasco between 2010 and 2016, which some have speculated could be connected to Chiara's murder. Giada Bocellari, Stasi's lawyer, has been vocal about these cases, stating, "The first case was that of Giovanni Ferri, an 88-year-old found dead in Garlasco on November 23, 2010, with his wrists and throat cut. Investigators ruled it a suicide, but others claimed he might have seen something the morning Chiara was killed three years prior."
Another young man took his own life in 2016, hanging himself after posting a line from the Club Dogo song "La Verità" on Facebook, which reads, "The truth is in the things that no one knows, the truth no one will ever tell you." These incidents have led to speculation about potential connections to Chiara's case, although Bocellari has clarified, "I have never spoken of satanism, as some have said." She has been attempting to reconstruct the context surrounding these suicides, noting that at least three of the young victims knew each other.
Despite the tragic nature of these events, Bocellari stressed that there is no confirmed link between the suicides and Chiara's murder. "I cannot say if there is a connection between what happened to Chiara and them. I was trying to understand who they were and what relationships they had. I do not have access to the records, so I cannot say exactly what happened," she explained.
As the investigation unfolds, Chiara Poggi's parents, Rita and Giuseppe, remain steadfast in their belief that the truth has already been established by the court's decision against Stasi. They expressed their frustration with Stasi's continued public commentary, stating, "It does not seem fair that he continues to speak, giving interviews and making insinuations. He is a convicted prisoner, and he has tried several times, unsuccessfully, to overturn the sentence."
On the day that Chiara would have turned 44, her parents reaffirmed their commitment to her memory. They have never left the villa where the crime occurred, stating, "Here is Chiara, and we could not abandon her." Meanwhile, Stasi, while maintaining his innocence, noted, "I hope that all the truth emerges for Chiara, her family, and everyone."
As the judicial system moves forward with its investigations, including a forced DNA sample from Sempio, who had previously refused to submit voluntarily, the community of Garlasco continues to grapple with the shadows of the past. Stasi's assertion that "innocents do not run away" resonates as he remains hopeful for a resolution that could finally bring peace to all those affected by this long-standing tragedy.
