On a chilly spring morning in Milan on March 27, 1995, the world of high fashion was rocked by the shocking murder of Maurizio Gucci, heir to the renowned Gucci fashion house. The 47-year-old was shot dead in the entrance of his office located on Via Palestro 20, with a doorman, Giuseppe Onorato, witnessing the attack. Onorato was injured in the arm during the fray, but he could only watch as the assailant escaped in a green Renault Clio.
The circumstances surrounding Gucci's death have since become a tangled narrative of ambition, betrayal, and a lengthy quest for justice that ultimately revealed a dramatic tale involving his former wife, Patrizia Reggiani. Known as the "Black Widow," Reggiani struggled to cope with the end of her marriage and the loss of her influence over the Gucci family legacy. After their divorce in 1994, her bitterness grew, culminating in an elaborate plot to eliminate her ex-husband.
In the wake of Gucci's murder, the investigation initially focused on family feuds and Gucci's considerable debts; he had sold his shares to the investment firm Investcorp in 1993 for a staggering 270 billion lire, excluding his family from the business. Authorities pursued leads that took them from international betting tables in St. Moritz to the docks of Mallorca, completely overlooking Reggiani, who openly displayed her disdain for Gucci, buoyed by anger and resentment over their relationship's fallout. Speaking to Sette years later, she confessed, "I asked everyone, even the butcher, if anyone had the courage to kill him."
Despite these clues, it took nearly two years for authorities to uncover Reggiani's role in the conspiracy. A turning point came in January 1997, when a police informant, Gabriele Carpanese, reported to Filippo Ninni, chief of the Criminalpol, that Ivano Savioni, who had worked closely with Reggiani, possessed key details about the murder. An undercover operation was launched, during which an agent, posing as a Colombian drug trafficker, infiltrated the tight circle surrounding Reggiani and her accomplices. This led to crucial secret recordings made in the Hotel Adry revealing conversations about the illicit plot.
As the investigation unfolded, police uncovered the motley crew recruited to carry out the assassination: Savioni, a hotel doorman; Orazio Cicala, a failing pizza maker; and Benedetto Ceraulo, a seasoned hitman who ultimately fired the fatal shots. The operation carried a hefty price tag of 600 million lire—a sum that encapsulated the lengths to which Reggiani was willing to go to reclaim control over her former life.
On March 23, 1998, after extensive investigations and trials, the judicial system delivered its verdict. Reggiani received a sentence of 29 years, along with her accomplices Cicala and Ceraulo, who was handed life imprisonment; Auriemma received 25 years, and Savioni 26 years. In the courtroom, prosecutor Carlo Nocerino reflected on the tragedy, stating, "Maurizio Gucci died for Cicala's gambling debts, Ceraulo's grand dreams, and Savioni's petty cash."
Reggiani eventually served 17 years of her sentence at San Vittore prison, often ironically dubbing it "Victor’s Residence," and was released in 2014 to carry out community service. Meanwhile, both Auriemma and Savioni were released in 2010 and 2012, respectively, while Cicala passed away and Ceraulo remains behind bars.
Reflecting on her motivations, Reggiani admitted in a 2021 interview, “Maurizio stizziva me. I didn’t hate him. It was just second-hand anger.” Her words reveal a complex emotional landscape that ultimately led to Nor in emotional and financial manipulation. This case not only brought to light the dark side of family dynamics but also captured the public imagination, culminating in the 2021 film House of Gucci, which gave new life to the chilling events.
Pina Auriemma, Reggiani's close confidant and the so-called magician who acted as an intermediary, expressed regret about her involvement many years later. She reflected on looking back, “I should have sensed something was wrong. It’s tormenting.” Auriemma had been sentenced as well, spending 13 of her 19 years sentenced in prison.
The murder of Maurizio Gucci remains a pivotal moment in Italian crime history, overshadowing the glitz and glamour of the fashion world. It blends elements of a tragic personal story with the unthinkable involvement of family and friends, creating a complex narrative that society continues to grapple with three decades later. Reggiani's story, once ensconced in the allure of high fashion, reminds us of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface, blending ambition with envy in a chilling tapestry woven across a lifetime.
