Matteo Messina Denaro, a notorious member of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra and convicted killer who evaded capture for thirty years, passed away on Monday in a hospital in L’Aquila, Italy. He was serving time in a maximum-security prison in the nearby city. The cause of death was colon cancer, according to his lawyer, Alessandro Cerella. Messina Denaro had been undergoing treatment for several years and fell into an irreversible coma on Friday.
Messina Denaro was finally arrested in January while waiting to undergo chemotherapy at a private clinic in Palermo. He had been using an alias, but investigators found a piece of paper with his medical history at his mother’s home in Castelvetrano, Sicily. By cross-referencing national health service records, they were able to identify patients with similar conditions and narrow it down to him.
Despite operating under the radar, Messina Denaro remained at the top of Italy’s most wanted list for decades. His ability to evade capture added to his mystique and reputation as an invincible mobster. A recently published book called “La Cattura” by Maurizio de Lucia, Palermo’s chief prosecutor, refers to him as “one of Italy’s greatest mysteries” and describes him as the mobster who brought the Sicilian Cosa Nostra into a new era within a unified criminal system.
In 2020, Messina Denaro was convicted in absentia for his involvement in the high-profile murders of two prominent anti-Mafia prosecutors, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, in 1992. He was also found guilty of orchestrating deadly bombings in Milan, Rome, and Florence the following year. Prosecutors believe these bombings were part of the Cosa Nostra’s strategy against the Italian state. He also received a life sentence for his role in the kidnapping and murder of a 12-year-old boy, the son of a mafia defector, as well as the death of a police officer.
Messina Denaro’s reputation as a womanizer is widely known. He is suspected of having numerous affairs both in Italy and abroad. Some of these relationships led women to prison for aiding his life as a fugitive. This behavior has been seen as a departure from the traditional Mafia’s emphasis on family values.
Details about Messina Denaro are largely based on the testimonies of mafia informants, court records, and hearsay. Before his arrest, authorities had very little information on him. He was known for his slim build and love of fast luxury cars, which he was unable to indulge in for fear of being recognized. When arrested, he was wearing a watch worth around 30,000 euros, and his hideout contained designer clothes and expensive perfumes.
During his decades on the run, Messina Denaro is thought to have created connections with criminal groups across Europe and the Americas. He remained elusive, earning him the nickname “a ghost” among seasoned Mafia reporters. He operated within the Corleonesi crime family, led by Salvatore Riina, known as the Boss of all Bosses. Messina Denaro took his father’s place in the Cosa Nostra hierarchy when his father went into hiding. In 1991, he attended a significant meeting where Sicilian Mafia families decided to wage war against the Italian government through assassinations and bombings.
Messina Denaro exerted control over the Trapani province in western Sicily, acquiring legal businesses such as travel agencies, supermarkets, and alternative-energy companies. He communicated with associates through letters and messages that were burned once read. He had a vast network of loyal associates who feared and respected him, as well as locals who turned a blind eye to his activities.
Numerous people who assisted him in evading capture or benefited from his criminal enterprises were imprisoned over the years, including friends, family members, and top business associates. Seized assets and company shares worth nearly 10 billion euros were considered just the tip of the iceberg by prosecutors.
His popularity in his territories was attributed to the perception that he was a benefactor to the local community. This dynamic helped him remain hidden for so long. He was admired and loved by many, which made it difficult for authorities to apprehend him.
At the time of his arrest, Messina Denaro had already been sentenced to multiple life terms. He spent his final months in jail, attending court hearings, and receiving cancer treatment. He was scheduled to appear in court for another trial this month.
Messina Denaro was born on April 26, 1962, in Castelvetrano, western Sicily. He was the fourth of six children, and his father, Francesco Messina Denaro, was a local mafia boss who died while on the run in 1998. His mother, Lorenza Santangelo, was a homemaker. Further details about his surviving family members are not currently available.
Despite his crimes, Messina Denaro continued to deny his involvement in the Mafia and its killings. However, evidence suggests that he was engaged in criminal activities from a young age. He was known to have fired a gun at the age of 14 and committed his first murder at 18. By 31, he was involved in bombings in northern Italy. His criminal abilities were evident from a young age.
In his final interrogation before his death, Messina Denaro complained about losing his residence and assets, insisting that he used to work as a farmer in the countryside. He maintained his innocence until the end.
Overall, Matteo Messina Denaro’s life and crimes remain shrouded in the mystery and allure of the notorious Sicilian Mafia.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
