In the bustling heart of Rome, Villa Doria Pamphili stands as a serene escape from urban life. But tranquility was shattered when the naked bodies of a toddler and a woman were unearthed in the park's brush last month, sending shockwaves through the community. Investigators were met with a challenging situation: the woman's body was beyond visual identification, and without documents, solving the mystery seemed grim.
The Unraveling Mystery of a Mother and Child Found Dead in Rome

The Unraveling Mystery of a Mother and Child Found Dead in Rome
In a tragic case that captivated Italy, a public park became the center of a grisly investigation after the bodies of a mother and her child were discovered.
Front-page headlines erupted in the media, with sensational coverage drawing attention to the horrifying discovery. Under pressure to provide answers, police took an unusual route and sought assistance from a popular television program named “Chi l’ha Visto?” or “Who Has Seen Him?” known for its focus on tracing missing persons and providing investigative support through viewer tips.
Armed only with the knowledge that the deceased woman had four distinct tattoos and that a preliminary autopsy indicated the child was her daughter, the show’s representatives aired several episodes asking the public for clues. As audience engagement surged, memories flashed back for many, who believed they had seen a young mother and her child accompanied by a man fitting a suspicious description.
It wasn't long before a breakthrough emerged. A viewer reported seeing a man, woman, and child walking on the street, with the man appearing injured. Police logs confirmed their presence at the scene, leading to the identification of the man as Rexal Ford, later revealed to be Francis Charles Kaufmann. He was arrested in Greece shortly after the incident and extradited to Italy, though he has not yet faced charges in the deaths.
As the investigation unfolded, the show continued to be instrumental. A reporter on “Chi l’ha Visto?” tracked down shopkeepers near the location of Kaufmann's earlier sighting, leading to a photograph that became crucial in identifying the woman and child. After publicizing this image, a friend of the deceased woman recognized her, identifying the mother as Anastasia Trofimova, aged 29, and her daughter as Andromeda.
The show’s host, Federica Sciarelli, expressed gratitude towards the viewers whose tips had been indispensable, proudly stating how their collective effort greatly aided police inquiries. Another layer of tragedy unfolded as it came to light that Kaufmann was not only a prime suspect in his daughter’s death, but also implicated in Anastasia's demise. While her cause of death remains undetermined, preliminary findings confirmed that the young girl had been strangled.
As investigations progress, Kaufmann remains incarcerated in Italy. The families have been drawn into the public eye, with Anastasia’s parents flown from Siberia to meet with authorities and commemorate their lost loved ones. The television program has extensively covered this case, which some critics believe points to police negligence in responding to prior reports of Kaufmann's erratic behavior.
As the story develops, “Chi l’ha Visto?” continues to be a beacon of hope for many families impacted by disappearances, showing the powerful role community engagement can play in unraveling complex criminal cases.
Armed only with the knowledge that the deceased woman had four distinct tattoos and that a preliminary autopsy indicated the child was her daughter, the show’s representatives aired several episodes asking the public for clues. As audience engagement surged, memories flashed back for many, who believed they had seen a young mother and her child accompanied by a man fitting a suspicious description.
It wasn't long before a breakthrough emerged. A viewer reported seeing a man, woman, and child walking on the street, with the man appearing injured. Police logs confirmed their presence at the scene, leading to the identification of the man as Rexal Ford, later revealed to be Francis Charles Kaufmann. He was arrested in Greece shortly after the incident and extradited to Italy, though he has not yet faced charges in the deaths.
As the investigation unfolded, the show continued to be instrumental. A reporter on “Chi l’ha Visto?” tracked down shopkeepers near the location of Kaufmann's earlier sighting, leading to a photograph that became crucial in identifying the woman and child. After publicizing this image, a friend of the deceased woman recognized her, identifying the mother as Anastasia Trofimova, aged 29, and her daughter as Andromeda.
The show’s host, Federica Sciarelli, expressed gratitude towards the viewers whose tips had been indispensable, proudly stating how their collective effort greatly aided police inquiries. Another layer of tragedy unfolded as it came to light that Kaufmann was not only a prime suspect in his daughter’s death, but also implicated in Anastasia's demise. While her cause of death remains undetermined, preliminary findings confirmed that the young girl had been strangled.
As investigations progress, Kaufmann remains incarcerated in Italy. The families have been drawn into the public eye, with Anastasia’s parents flown from Siberia to meet with authorities and commemorate their lost loved ones. The television program has extensively covered this case, which some critics believe points to police negligence in responding to prior reports of Kaufmann's erratic behavior.
As the story develops, “Chi l’ha Visto?” continues to be a beacon of hope for many families impacted by disappearances, showing the powerful role community engagement can play in unraveling complex criminal cases.