A horrifying new chapter has emerged in the tragic death of Italian model Pamela Genini, who was stabbed to death in Milan last October. When workers attempted to move her coffin to its final resting place on March 23, 2026, they made a gruesome discovery: the 29-year-old’s head had been severed from her body and stolen from the cemetery in Strozza, located in the province of Bergamo.
Cemetery workers became alarmed when Genini’s coffin would not close properly during the transfer from a burial niche to the family chapel. Her mother, Una Smirnova, her partner Piergiuseppe Rota, and her brother Nicola Genini were present for what should have been a solemn ceremony. Upon inspection, workers noticed a loose screw at the base of the coffin and fresh silicone used to seal the lid instead of wood putty—evidence that someone had recently tampered with her remains, which had been at rest for five months since her murder.
When they opened the coffin, they discovered the model and entrepreneur’s head was missing. Police believe three or four suspects were involved in the macabre act, as the heavy coffin would have been impossible for one person to handle alone. The Bergamo Public Prosecutor has launched an investigation into desecration of a corpse and theft, charges that could carry a sentence of up to seven years in prison under Article 411 of the Italian Penal Code—with harsher penalties since the crime occurred in a cemetery.
The discovery adds another devastating layer to an already tragic case. Genini was murdered on October 14, 2025, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, Italian businessman Gianluca Soncin, 52, on the terrace of her apartment on Via Iglesias in Milan’s Gorla neighborhood.
According to Milan prosecutor Alessia Menegazzo, Genini sustained injuries “to the neck, back, chest, upper limbs, and hands, with 24 stabs.” The brutal attack occurred around 10 p.m. after Soncin allegedly entered her apartment using a key he had copied without her knowledge.
The terror of that night was captured in desperate messages Genini sent to a friend. “I’m scared. This guy’s completely crazy… I don’t know what to do,” she wrote. Minutes later, she sent another frantic text revealing Soncin had a duplicate key and had broken in. Genini was on the phone with another former partner when Soncin entered, and that ex-boyfriend immediately contacted authorities.
Neighbors heard Genini’s screams for help and immediately called police. Some witnesses in an adjacent building reported seeing portions of the attack unfold on her third-floor balcony. When officers arrived at the apartment and rang the intercom, Genini answered, saying it was a food delivery—apparently trying to pretend the police were Glovo couriers. Officers, along with firefighters, broke down the door to discover the bloody scene, but by then Genini had already succumbed to her wounds.
After allegedly stabbing Genini 24 times, Soncin turned the knife on himself, slashing his throat twice as police arrived. His injuries were non-critical. He was initially treated at Milan’s Niguarda hospital but is now in solitary confinement at San Vittore prison, facing charges of aggravated homicide, stalking, premeditation, and femicide.
The relationship between Genini and Soncin had deteriorated badly. The couple had dated for more than a year, but Genini was planning to leave him. Evidence and witness testimonies revealed a pattern of abuse. Prosecutors noted that Soncin had been stalking Genini, and others claimed she suffered physical abuse and threats from him—including alleged strangulation attempts and threats with a gun. Despite this, Genini never reported the abuse herself to authorities. Investigators seized a dozen knives, including box cutters and switchblades, along with four or five blank pistols from Soncin’s home in Cervia.
Soncin has exercised his right to silence since his arrest. His lawyer, Simona Luceri, told Italian media that her client is “not lucid” and “has not yet become aware of what happened.”
Genini had built a successful career as a model and entrepreneur. She began professional modeling at 16 and at 19 appeared on the Italian reality dating show “L’isola di Adamo ed Eva” on Deejay TV. She went on to co-found the luxury swimwear brand EP SheLux with influencer Elisa Bartolotti and ran a luxury real estate consulting business, splitting her time between Milan, Monte Carlo, and Dubai. Her death shocked friends and family who had witnessed the dangerous relationship unfold.
The theft of her head from the cemetery has left investigators scrambling for answers. The family’s lawyer, Nicodemo Gentile, noted that initial assessments point to multiple perpetrators, though no arrests have been made and there has been no ransom demand. Investigators have not ruled out that a “pathological obsession” with Genini may be behind the desecration.
Genini’s mother has made desperate public appeals for help. In an interview with the Italian television program “Dentro la Notizia,” Una Smirnova described the family’s anguish: “We are living in a continuous nightmare. I don’t know how to move forward without being able to bury my daughter fully.” She called the grave desecration an “inhuman atrocity” and pleaded for anyone with information to come forward.
Italian authorities are treating the cemetery desecration as a separate criminal investigation from the murder case. The body is now under judicial seizure as investigators examine forensic evidence from the cemetery and review surveillance footage to establish timelines and identify potential accomplices. The violation of her grave represents a shocking final indignity to a young woman whose life was already stolen by violence.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233 and operates 24/7 in more than 170 languages.