According to Italian authorities, a 45-year-old woman was abducted and thrown off a motorway bridge near Florence, marking the seventh alleged femicide in Italy since mid-August. Lorena Isceri, who worked in the veterinary sector, was allegedly kidnapped on a Thursday afternoon in the Rifredi area by her 38-year-old ex-boyfriend, Federico Vella, before being forced into a car boot and driven toward the A1 motorway.
Abduction Timeline and Emergency Call Details
During the kidnapping, Isceri retained her mobile phone and contacted an emergency helpline to report the abduction, according to police reports. Vella subsequently stopped the vehicle, seized the phone, and allegedly threw her off the bridge before jumping off himself. Police traced the phone signal following the emergency call, but officers arrived too late to prevent the killing. Investigators are currently working to establish whether Isceri was murdered before being thrown from the structure.
Isceri’s mother stated to SkyTg24 that she had last spoken to her daughter on Thursday morning and that she had sounded fine. When asked about the relationship with Vella, her mother said Isceri had previously spoken about it and was very afraid.
National Femicide Data and Holiday Spikes
Italian interior ministry data previously indicated a downward trend in femicides during the first six months of 2026. However, figures compiled by the feminist alliance Non Una di Meno showed that 40 women had been killed by 8 August. Numbers have since risen following the 15 August Ferragosto national holiday, with seven women, including Isceri, killed by current or former partners.
Did you know? Italian law now carries a life sentence for femicide, following legislation approved two years after the killing of 22-year-old medical student Giulia Cecchetin in November 2023.
Political Response and Policy Criticisms
Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition celebrated becoming the longest-serving government in the history of the Italian republic, having pledged to crack down on gender-based violence following strong public reactions to Cecchetin’s killing. The resulting law introduced a legal definition of femicide and increased sentences for stalking, sexual violence, and the sharing of intimate images without consent. However, a campaign to educate schoolboys about healthy relationships was later thwarted after the government made it conditional on parental approval.
Luisa Rizzitelli, the Italy coordinator of One Billion Rising, criticized the administration’s current strategy. According to Rizzitelli, speaking to media outlets, “Perhaps Meloni is right to celebrate her government’s longevity, because there is precious little to celebrate in terms of concrete results.” Rizzitelli added that the official approach has relied strictly on security policies while lacking strategic, structural training and prevention programs, calling the refusal to implement relationship education in schools a major factor fueling the violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What legal changes were recently introduced regarding femicide in Italy?
According to government records, a law approved following the strong public reaction introduced a formal legal definition of femicide into criminal law, punishable by life imprisonment, alongside harsher penalties for stalking and sexual violence.
How many women have been killed by partners in Italy recently?
Data from the feminist alliance Non Una di Meno indicates that 40 women were killed up to 8 August, with an additional seven women killed by current or former partners since the Ferragosto holiday.
What are advocacy groups demanding for long-term prevention?
According to Luisa Rizzitelli of One Billion Rising, advocates are calling for structural prevention programs and mandatory sex and relationship education in schools rather than relying solely on security policies.
Join the Discussion: Share your thoughts on this report in the comments below, or subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing updates on legal and social developments across Italy.