A 53-year-old Italian man, identified as Marco Panichi, has reportedly surrendered to police after his 36-year-old girlfriend, Grey Sanmartin Villalba, was found stabbed to death in Vergiate, in Italy’s Varese province, on Friday, October 23.
According to reports, Panichi, who works as a plumbing technician, allegedly stabbed Villalba at least 15 times, with several of the wounds concentrated around her neck.
Following the incident, Panichi reportedly travelled to his father’s apartment in another province, where he allegedly confessed to what had happened before turning himself in to the authorities.
At the police station, Panichi reportedly claimed that he acted in self-defence, alleging that Villalba, a Colombian national, had attacked him with a knife during an argument. He also reportedly described her as extremely jealous.
Investigators found Villalba’s body in the couple’s bedroom, with a kitchen knife featuring a 33-centimetre blade reportedly discovered nearby. A preliminary medical examination identified at least 15 stab wounds, many of them around her neck, according to reports.
The couple had reportedly been together for less than a year. Villalba, who lived in Ancona, was separated and had two minor children. Panichi, meanwhile, had previously been in a relationship that lasted approximately 10 years before it ended.
Panichi later rented an apartment in Vergiate, where he and Villalba reportedly lived together. He frequently shared photographs of their relationship on social media and changed his relationship status to “officially engaged” on July 16.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding Villalba’s death. Panichi’s claim that he acted in self-defence remains an allegation and has not been established as fact in court.
