Authorities are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after a disabled five-year-old girl, her parents and their pet dog were found dead in their home in the Pietralata suburb of Rome. The discovery was made on Monday afternoon when relatives, unable to contact the family, alerted emergency services.
Carabinieri and firefighters forced entry into the residence at 1 p.m. and found Luca Abbasciano, 42, Valentina Pambianco, 41, and their daughter Bianca, five, deceased in their bed. The family's dog was also found shot dead.
Investigators found numerous letters around the bodies, which reportedly contained apologies, explanations, and instructions for loved ones. One letter from Luca Abbasciano to his sister, who raised the alarm, asked her to "take care of dad." Other messages indicated the parents felt overwhelmed, with one reading, "We can't do this alone."
Neighbors described the couple as having desperately wanted a child, but that Bianca was born prematurely with significant disabilities. Valentina Pambianco had reportedly left her job to care for Bianca full-time, while Luca Abbasciano, an IT technician, had renovated their home extensively. A local politician, Massimiliano Umberti, noted that the child was severely disabled and that social services had been involved with the family.
"Loneliness is the greatest evil in the world today," Umberti stated, reflecting on the circumstances. Neighbors also recounted observing Valentina Pambianco appearing increasingly distressed over time.
Police are working to reconstruct the family's final hours and confirm the circumstances of the deaths. The couple had reportedly been seeking specialized treatment for Bianca, with plans to travel to Mexico, and neighbors said they had become increasingly isolated due to the demands of caring for their daughter. The family had resided in the Pietralata home for approximately ten years.