Psychiatric Evaluation Ordered for Kaufmann in Villa Pamphilj Murders
Rome, March 9, 2026 – The Rome Assize Court has approved a psychiatric evaluation for Francis Kaufmann, the American man accused of the double murder of his partner Anastasia Trofimova and their daughter Andromeda. The bodies were discovered last year in Villa Pamphilj. The examination, to be completed within 30 days, will determine Kaufmann’s capacity to participate in the ongoing trial.
Kaufmann faces charges of aggravated murder, stemming from futile and abject motives, and the concealment of the bodies. The defense’s request for a psychiatric evaluation was made during the initial hearing in February.
Defense Cites Deteriorating Mental State
According to his lawyer, Paolo Foti, Kaufmann’s mental health has significantly deteriorated in recent months. Foti highlighted a violent altercation with a prison guard at Rebibbia prison as a contributing factor. “Kaufmann has clearly been sedated; during meetings, he appeared in dirty clothes and engaged in nonsensical, delirious monologues,” Foti stated.
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office had initially opposed the request, but the Assize Court ultimately decided to proceed with the evaluation.
The Villa Pamphilj Murders: A Timeline
The tragic events date back to June 2025 when the bodies of Anastasia Trofimova, 28, and her daughter Andromeda were found a few meters apart. Autopsies confirmed that Trofimova died from suffocation, and her daughter was strangled. Following the murders, Kaufmann fled to the Greek island of Skiathos on a commercial flight, where he was later tracked down and arrested by police.
Investigations after his arrest revealed that Kaufmann had been using the false name Rexal Ford for years, which was also on the passport he used for travel. He presented himself by this name during the February hearing.
Legal Classification: Not a Femicide Case
Prosecutor Antonio Verdi clarified that the crimes cannot be prosecuted as femicides under current Italian law. This is because they occurred before the new legislation, which introduced femicide as a specific offense, came into effect on December 17.
Witness Testimonies and Kaufmann’s Actions
The prosecution’s witness list includes numerous individuals who interacted with Kaufmann, Trofimova, and their daughter in Rome between April and June of last year. Of particular note are incidents on May 30, when Kaufmann was involved in a street brawl, and on June 3, when he was in another altercation at a bar in central Rome.
Judges will also review a video filmed by a passerby on June 5, showing a visibly intoxicated Kaufmann with his daughter leaning against a scooter. Trofimova was already deceased at this point, having been strangled the night before.
Attempt to Enroll Daughter in Modeling
Further investigations revealed that days after his partner’s murder, Kaufmann attempted to contact “baby modeling” agencies to enroll his 14-month-old daughter in advertising campaigns. This detail emerged from an analysis of his cell phone traffic. “She has been noticed by several talent scouts (who say she is beautiful). She is fun and has a great personality. We are currently evaluating several agencies that want to sign her, we haven’t been to Milan yet,” he wrote, likely in search of money. He continued to unsuccessfully solicit funds from friends and family while planning his escape from Rome.
