Overview
- Sara Di Vita, 15, and her mother, Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, died at Cardarelli Hospital in Campobasso after a rapid deterioration marked by acute hepatic insufficiency and multiorgan failure.
- Doctors and investigators cite a likely foodborne cause, possibly linked to seafood consumed during holiday meals, though the exact agent remains unconfirmed.
- Police seized preserves, jarred foods and shellfish remnants from the family home for toxicological and microbiological testing, and prosecutors ordered autopsies expected on Tuesday.
- Investigators note other Christmas Eve dinner guests reported no illness, shifting attention to a smaller meal involving only the parents and the younger daughter.
- The father, Gianni Di Vita, was transferred to Rome’s Spallanzani institute for specialist exams, while the older daughter is asymptomatic and under precautionary evaluation.