Two teenagers, an 18-year-old and a 12-year-old, have been placed under investigation by the Sulmona Prosecutor’s Office for the alleged aggravated sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl and the distribution of the videos via WhatsApp groups. The horrific abuse took place in Sulmona, a town in Abruzzo’s Peligna Valley.
As reported by local editions of Il Centro and Il Messaggero, the investigation was launched after the young victim confided in her parents. Following her account, Carabinieri police carried out searches of the suspects’ homes and seized electronic equipment, including tablets, mobile phones, and computers.
The authorities are examining the devices to verify the origin of the illicit material and to identify anyone who may have had access to it. The investigation revealed that the girl was repeatedly assaulted indoors and threatened with the publication of videos recorded during the abuse. The suspects are believed to have already shared some of the footage in certain WhatsApp chats.
The probe could widen to include charges against others who viewed or disseminated the videos. A case file for the crime of aggravated sexual violence has been opened at the local Juvenile Court and the Sulmona Prosecutor’s Office.