A 13-year-old girl in Monza became the victim of a horrifying assault after a seemingly harmless online encounter turned into rape by a 25-year-old South American man, who lied about his age. The suspect, a city resident, was arrested by State Police late Friday morning following a swift investigation, moments before he could board a flight to his home country.
The teenager, despite severe shock, confided in a friend, called emergency services (112), and alerted her parents after the attack.
Separately, police in Naples are investigating a series of alleged sexual assaults at a prominent downtown hotel. Reports suggest both victims and suspects are employees. Two women have filed complaints against two male colleagues, both in managerial positions at the time of the alleged incidents.
Regarding the Monza case, the minor reportedly connected with her attacker via Instagram through mutual contacts. He initially claimed to be 17, which she believed. After roughly a week of contact, last Wednesday, she agreed to meet him in a public place. He suggested Monza railway station.
Once there, the 25-year-old persuaded the teenager under false pretenses to accompany him to an isolated area near trees along the Villoresi canal, falsely claiming it was busy. When he laid a towel on the grass and told her to remove her shoes and socks, she grew frightened. Only then did he reveal he was twelve years her senior.
Despite her attempts to resist the assault, the 13-year-old was raped. She fled barefoot, but he caught her, threatened her with a knife, forced her back to the station, and escaped. After returning home, she contacted her best friend and, following a sleepless night, found the courage to seek help.
Rushed to Milan’s Mangiagalli clinic, where the sexual violence was medically confirmed, the minor provided a statement to investigators and a magistrate. Special care was taken during questioning to reconstruct events. Forensic police then examined the crime scene, recovering a Coca-Cola bottle the assailant drank from and the wrapper of a used condom. The victim’s clothing from the assault was also seized.
Within hours, Flying Squad officers identified the suspect. On Friday morning, they arrested him at his home, seizing the clothes he wore during the attack – hidden in dirty laundry – along with the towel and the knife used for threats. The 25-year-old, who possessed a plane ticket to Spain and a packed suitcase, was immediately arrested on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault and jailed. The investigating magistrate later validated the arrest and ordered pre-trial detention at San Quirico prison.
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