The Monster of Florence is one of Europe’s most disturbing and unsolved serial-killer cases. Between 1968 and 1985, a killer the press nicknamed Il Mostro—“The Monster”—stalked the hills and countryside outside Florence, Italy. His victims were young couples seeking privacy in parked cars, unaware that someone was hunting them in the dark.

This episode takes you through the full timeline, from the first double homicide in 1968 to the final murders in 1985. We break down the killer’s method, the forensic patterns linking each attack, and how investigators pursued suspects ranging from local farmers to voyeurs, to the now-infamous theory of a “Sardinian connection.”

We’ll cover the chaotic police work, political pressure, wrongful convictions, and the massive investigation that spanned decades—yet still ended with no confirmed Monster ever identified.

Why did the killer stop?

Did the police target the wrong men?

And could Il Mostro still be alive?

This is the chilling and complex story of The Monster of Florence, a case that shaped Italy’s criminal history and remains shrouded in mystery to this day.

Sources

• Preston, Douglas & Mario Spezi. The Monster of Florence. Grand Central Publishing, 2008.

• Cornwell, Patricia. The Monster of Florence: A True Story. St. Martin’s Press, 2014.

• The Guardian. “The Monster of Florence: Inside Italy’s Most Notorious Unsolved Serial Killer Case.”

• Time Magazine. “The True Story Behind the Monster of Florence Murders.”

• La Repubblica (Italy). Coverage of the Monster of Florence investigation and trials.

• Corriere della Sera (Italy). Reporting on suspects, court proceedings, and appeals.

• RAI Italian Television – Investigative specials on Il Mostro di Firenze.

• CBS / 48 Hours – “The Monster of Florence” segment.

• Crime Library (Archived) – “Monster of Florence” case overview.

• Murderpedia – Victim list and case summaries.