Ramon Berloso

Lore & Background

Ramon Berloso was born in 1975 in Farra d'Isonzo, the only son of a well-respected local couple. Described as a shy child, he was passionate about motocross and frequently visited the Motor Expo Racing track. In October 1993, at age 17, he argued with 18-year-old Alessandro Paglavech and offered to fight him in a cornfield. Berloso claimed he punched Paglavech harder than intended, causing him to fall into a mud puddle and suffocate. He initially blamed two other men but later confessed and was convicted of manslaughter, serving 6 years and 8 months in Marca Juvenile Prison. After release, he worked as a gardener, married a Brazilian woman named Eloa Janes de Macero, and had a daughter, Vittoria. The couple separated, and Berloso's mother later said he suffered depression after the separation and after discovering his father's body in 2008.

Reader's Guide

Berloso's crimes gained notoriety due to the unusual weapon—a crossbow—and the methodical nature of the killings. He contacted prostitutes, drove them to an uninhabited villa, struck them with an iron bar, and shot them with a crossbow dart. He buried both victims on a riverbank near Tapogliano. After his arrest, he confessed readily, claiming he needed money and targeted high-class escorts. His suicide attempt in prison, which left him brain dead, and subsequent death on life support added a grim coda. The case highlighted the challenges of monitoring released offenders and the psychological toll of prior trauma. Berloso's mother planned a private funeral and intended to move away, stating the house would be stigmatized as the home of a killer.

Did You Know?

• Berloso accidentally discovered his father's body on the floor of their house in 2008, which he said had a lasting impact on his psyche.
• He used a crossbow to shoot both victims after first hitting them with an iron bar.
• Berloso confessed to a priest, Giorgio Saccon, before turning himself in.
• He wrote three letters before his suicide attempt: one to his daughter, one to his mother, and one in Portuguese to a female friend.