The Unsolved Murder of Serena Mollicone: A Tale of Mystery and Controversy

On June 1, 2001, an eighteen-year-old girl named Serena Mollicone vanished from her hometown of Arce in the province of Frosinone, Italy. Just two days later, her lifeless body was found in a nearby forest, horrifyingly bound with adhesive tape and wire. A plastic bag from the Eurospin supermarket was discovered over her head, and a subsequent autopsy revealed that she had succumbed to asphyxiation—a chilling end to a young life. The case quickly attracted significant media attention, and now, two new episodes of the investigative series 'Indagini' delve deep into the convoluted narrative of Serena's murder. The coverage details a gruesome tale interspersed with possible cover-ups, shifting testimonies, and a mysterious cell phone that vanished only to resurface unexpectedly. Additionally, a crucial note emerged over a year and a half after the tragic incident, further complicating the story. Scientific analyses played a pivotal role, particularly focusing on the adhesive tape used to bind Serena and evidence related to a door featuring a specific fracture pattern. These investigative elements spotlight a case that remains legally unresolved, a relentless reminder of the unresolved questions surrounding her death. Throughout the years, the authorities pursued two main lines of inquiry. Carmine Belli, a man linked to the case, spent 17 months behind bars but was acquitted across all three court levels, as the legal proceedings could not nail him as the perpetrator. The investigation later turned to the local Carabinieri commander, Franco Mottola, along with his son Marco and wife Anna Maria, who were indicted but ultimately acquitted at the assizes and on appeal. However, the plot thickened when the Court of Cassation mandated that the case be retried, thus keeping the momentum of the investigation alive and the haunting memories of Serena's murder fresh in the public consciousness. As the community of Arce grapples with this ongoing tragedy, the pursuit of truth and justice continues, with the new trial representing a fragile hope for resolution in a case marked by deep-seated complications. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2