The Return of the Verano Grave Robber: A Challenge to Justice?
Rome’s monumental Verano Cemetery, a place of solemn remembrance, is once again under threat from a familiar and disturbing figure. Marco Conocchia, a 55-year-old former plumber, previously convicted for possessing 358 stolen photographs of deceased women and the ashes of Elena Aubry, is openly proclaiming his return to the scene of his morbid predilections. His defiant posts on social media suggest new acts of desecration, raising alarm and questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement.
A Convicted Offender’s Open Challenge
Conocchia, who was sentenced in November 2024 to two years and four months for receiving stolen goods, has never been arrested for the acts themselves. Despite this conviction, he has reactivated two Facebook profiles, where he has been, for the past ten days, announcing new “blitzes” at Verano. These posts are laced with provocative messages, including appeals to alleged female accomplices and a direct taunt to the police: “The cops will never win.”
Easter Desecration and the “Exceptional” Visit
One of Conocchia’s most unsettling posts, published on the eve of Easter, declared: “Girls, on Sunday 5/4/2026 exceptionally I will go to Verano after lunch, accompanied by lawyer Morandi, to pay homage to my deceased.” The mention of an attorney suggests Conocchia is aware of the legal ramifications of his actions, yet he proceeds with an almost theatrical bravado. His past “homages” to the deceased have involved using crowbars to detach frames from tombstones, not laying flowers. He famously stated during an interrogation, “I love images of dead women. I adore admiring their faces. They must be beautiful and young. After a while, however, I get bored, I throw away the photos and go looking for others.” The question now is: did this pattern repeat on Easter?
“Good Work, Girls, I’ll Give You a Raise”
Further posts from Conocchia, despite grammatical errors, offer chilling insights into his activities. An April 8 message reads: “Girls today I walked all over Verano far and wide without seeing you, you are like ghosts, good job you are doing a good job I will give you a raise.” This message, effectively a self-incrimination, hints at the involvement of others. What does he mean by “good work”? Does it refer to further thefts of images, or something more sinister? And why would these “necrophiliac accomplices” be “paid”?
“You are My Pride, the Cops Will Never Win”
In a subsequent yellow-highlighted post, Conocchia even names individuals: “Patrizia Silvana Mina Marzia you are doing an excellent job, you are my pride. Remember that the cops will never win.” While some speculate these women are “ghosts” evoked by the necrophile, the defiant tone and reference to “cops” suggest a real-world challenge, possibly implying accomplices acting as “informants” or “lookouts.”
A Hearse and a New Target: The Case of C.P.
The grave robber’s provocations continue with a photograph of a hearse parked in a rural setting, captioned: “Who am I transporting in this coffin?” This first-person statement is another self-accusation that would be easily dismissed if not for his past actions. Most recently, Conocchia posted a map of Verano, with a highlighted spot in section 47, near the “Crocione” in the northern part of the cemetery. Below it, he wrote: “C.P. 1959-1990.” Are these the initials of a new victim of sacrilegious theft? Carla? Celeste? Cesira? The macabre charade continues, with authorities seemingly unable to stop it.
Unanswered Questions and a Call for Action
The repeated acts of desecration and Conocchia’s open taunts raise critical questions:
- Why are Conocchia’s social media profiles, where he openly discusses illegal activities, allowed to remain active?
- What measures are being taken to secure Verano Cemetery and prevent further desecrations?
- Is there a systemic failure in monitoring individuals with a history of such crimes?
- What is the extent of involvement of alleged accomplices, and are they being investigated?
The citizens of Rome, and indeed Italy, deserve answers and assurance that their deceased loved ones can rest in peace without fear of such disturbing violations. The challenge from the “Verano grave robber” is not just to law enforcement, but to the very fabric of societal respect for the dead.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_aprile_11/roma-il-ladro-di-foto-di-defunte-e-di-urne-cinerarie-e-tornato-al-verano-ho-girato-in-lungo-e-in-largo-gli-sbirri-non-non-vinceranno-424f5f8c-50f3-419b-ae5e-c69ac6e6exlk.shtml
