A paramedic in Italy has been arrested following a series of harrowing discoveries that suggest he may have systematically killed elderly patients under his care. Luca Spada, known by the nickname “Spadino,” is accused of acting as an “angel of death” while serving on an ambulance for the Red Cross in Forlimpopoli, where he allegedly decided which patients were “too classic” to survive.
The investigation, led by the Prosecutor’s Office of Forlì, centers on a “catalogue of horror” revealed through wiretaps. These recordings capture Spada laughing and joking with his partner and colleagues about the deaths of those in his care. In one particularly chilling instance, Spada referred to a patient in her nineties, stating, «È vecchia, obesa e con tante patologie. Giustamente deve morire» (“She is old, obese and has many pathologies. Rightly she must die”).
The case has escalated from a series of suspicious deaths to a formal criminal investigation into voluntary homicide. Investigators believe Spada may have had a financial incentive to ensure the deaths of his patients, allegedly maintaining a steady collaboration with a funeral home in his hometown of Meldola. This dual role created a macabre pipeline where Spada could transition from a life-saving paramedic to a necrophore within the same day.
The Mechanics of the ‘Angel of Death’
The evidence against Spada is not limited to his own admissions. A colleague expressed shock over the medical tools Spada kept in the ambulance, noting that it is highly unusual for a first responder to carry a scalpel and a syringe. The witness hypothesized that Spada used the syringe to inject air into a patient’s venous access while alone with them during transport.
This theory was supported by a forensic autopsy performed on an 85-year-old patient. The court documents indicate that the death was compatible with the entry of air into the venous circulation immediately before the cardiac arrest. The timing of the event suggests an acute occurrence during transport, with no predictive signs of failure in the phase preceding the incident.
The legal gravity of these actions led a judge (GIP) to conclude that there is a concrete danger that the suspect could commit similar crimes. The judge cited the “intrinsic gravity of the facts” and the “significant criminal capacity” demonstrated by the methods used to kill the victims.
A Business of Death: The Funeral Home Connection
The motive appears to be rooted in a cynical financial arrangement. Wiretaps reveal a disturbing level of coordination between Spada, his partner, and the owners of a funeral home in Meldola. In one exchange, Spada told his partner, «Oggi ho fatto due morti» (“Today I made two deaths”), to which she replied, «Bene… Gli hai lasciato il biglietto da visita?» (“Decent… Did you leave the business card?”).
Further recordings demonstrate Spada informing a funeral home owner that he had “just made a death,” with the owner responding by asking if the business card had been handed out. This suggests a referral system where deaths were treated as business leads for the funeral service. One colleague even remarked to Spada that a patient they had saved “wasn’t one of yours,” adding that Spada wouldn’t have made a single euro from the survival.
While the funeral agency in Meldola has claimed that Spada was only an “occasional collaborator,” Carabinieri seized a uniform with Spada’s name on it at the agency’s headquarters, suggesting a much deeper integration into their operations.
Timeline of Allegations and Evidence
The investigation into the “Spadino” case has unfolded through a combination of forensic science and digital surveillance. The following table outlines the primary components of the evidence currently held by the Forlì Prosecutor’s Office.
| Evidence Type | Detail/Finding | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Wiretaps | Conversations about “making” deaths and leaving business cards. | Establishes intent and financial motive. |
| Autopsy | Air embolus found in an 85-year-old patient. | Provides physical proof of a lethal intervention. |
| Witness Testimony | Unusual presence of syringes and scalpels in the ambulance. | Identifies the tools used for the alleged crimes. |
| Seized Items | Personalized funeral director’s uniform. | Links the suspect to the funeral industry. |
Impact and Ongoing Investigations
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the Forlimpopoli community and the Red Cross, highlighting a catastrophic failure in the trust placed in emergency medical personnel. The victims were the most vulnerable members of society—elderly patients with multiple comorbidities who were entirely dependent on the care of their transporter.
Investigators are now working to determine the full scale of the tragedy. While the arrest was triggered by a specific case, the broader investigation is looking into at least six potential cases in the Forlì area to notice if the pattern of air embolisms or other lethal interventions repeats.
Authorities are also examining whether Spada operated alone or if there were accomplices within the emergency service or the funeral industry who facilitated these crimes. The investigation remains open as prosecutors seek to uncover every instance where a “business card” may have been exchanged for a human life.
Disclaimer: This report is based on ongoing legal proceedings and judicial ordinances. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The next legal checkpoint will be the scheduled hearings to determine the formal charges and the duration of the preventive detention for Luca Spada as the prosecution finalizes its case file.
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