FORLÌ, Italy — March 7, 2026
Italian authorities have launched a sweeping criminal investigation into a 27‑year‑old ambulance driver suspected of murdering at least five elderly patients during routine non‑emergency medical transports in the northern city of Forlì. The case has sent shockwaves through Italy’s healthcare and emergency‑response sectors, raising urgent questions about patient safety, oversight, and the potential misuse of medical authority.
A Pattern of Suspicious Deaths
According to the Forlì prosecutor’s office, all five victims—each elderly and already managing serious health conditions—suffered sudden cardiac arrests either during transport or shortly after arrival at medical facilities.
The deaths occurred between February and November 2025, all linked to the same ambulance driver, who worked for the Italian Red Cross.
The ambulance service first grew suspicious after four patients died under similar circumstances within months. In response, the service collaborated with Italy’s Carabinieri police force to install hidden cameras and audio recording devices inside the ambulance.
The Fifth Death That Triggered the Probe
The investigation intensified after the death of an 85‑year‑old woman in November 2025. She suffered cardiac arrest while being transported from a cardiac hospital to a rehabilitation center and was pronounced dead inside the ambulance. An autopsy revealed findings serious enough to transfer the case from police to prosecutors.
Possible Use of Toxic Substances
Prosecutors have stated that the deaths “may have occurred by means of poisonous substances or other insidious means,” suggesting the possibility of deliberate medical tampering.
Investigators are now reviewing toxicology evidence and footage from the hidden surveillance devices to determine whether harmful agents were administered during transport.
Suspect Maintains Innocence
The driver—whose name has not been publicly released—has been suspended from duty but not arrested. His defense attorney, Gloria Parigi, says he is “shocked” by the allegations and insists he has “nothing to hide,” adding that he has requested a formal hearing with prosecutors.
He had been employed by the ambulance service since 2023 and worked as part of a two‑person team, alternating between driving and providing patient care.
Potential Charges Imminent
Authorities say the suspect could face multiple voluntary homicide charges as early as this week, depending on the outcome of forensic analyses and the review of surveillance evidence.
A Community on Edge
The case has unsettled families, healthcare workers, and emergency‑service personnel across the Emilia‑Romagna region. Non‑emergency medical transport is widely relied u
pon by elderly and chronically ill patients, and the idea that such a service could be exploited for harm has prompted calls for stricter oversight, enhanced monitoring, and improved vetting of medical transport staff.
As the investigation continues, prosecutors emphasize that the suspect remains legally presumed innocent. However, the mounting evidence and the disturbing pattern of deaths have placed this case at the center of national attention.