SerpApi.Org
Luigi “Luca” Esposito, 53, was found dead over the weekend in southern Italy
NEED TO KNOW
- Luigi “Luca” Esposito, a prominent Italian sports journalist, was found dead in Eboli, Italy, under suspicious and violent circumstances
- Authorities are investigating his death, with international journalist organizations calling for a thorough and transparent inquiry
- Esposito was known for his work covering local soccer and contributing to various Italian news outlets
Authorities in Italy are investigating the murder of a sports journalist whose remains were found over the weekend.
Luigi “Luca” Esposito, 53, was identified as the victim whose burned remains were found in the southern Italian town of Eboli on Sunday, July 19, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the European Federation of Journalists and several local outlets.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Salerno Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating the case, according to statements by the EFJ and CPJ, as well as news outlets L’Unione Sarda and La Repubblica.
Esposito’s body, despite its burnt condition, showed signs of a severe beating to his face, ribs and pelvis, Corriere Della Sera reported, citing a CT scan performed by medical personnel. Bullet casings were also found in the vicinity, La Repubblica, L’Unione Sarda and Corriere Della Sera reported.
According to an update shared by La Repubblica on Wednesday, investigators have ruled out the beating and shooting as causes of death, and are now considering possibilities that Esposito was suffocated or strangled.
Esposito had his car keys in his pocket when he was found, and his vehicle was found locked, leading investigators to believe he had left it voluntarily to meet someone at the location, La Repubblica reported.
Security footage obtained by Eboli Municipal Police showed Esposito arriving near the scene of the fire with another person and remaining there for some time, according to La Città di Salerno, where Esposito worked as a contributing reporter.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Esposito was a passionate sports journalist with an accomplished career.
He was editor-in-chief of TuttoSalernitana.com, a local soccer news site, and worked as a sports commentator for television and other news outlets, CPJ and the International Federation of Journalists said in their respective statements.
The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ), along with Italian affiliate FNSI and CPJ, have condemned the killing and are calling for a thorough investigation.
Read the original article on People
