The Death and Legacy of Matteo Messina Denaro

On September 25, 2023, in the San Salvatore hospital in L’Aquila, Matteo Messina Denaro, the Castelvetrano boss known as the last of Cosa Nostra’s great bombers and a fugitive for 30 years, breathed his last. He died in a guarded room in the hospital, just a few kilometers from the maximum security prison in L’Aquila, where he had spent the last eight months of his life, succumbing to colon cancer that not only dictated his death but also facilitated his arrest after 30 years on the run. His arrest took place on January 16, 2023, in the La Maddalena clinic in Palermo, where he was receiving medical treatment.

A criminal life marked by bloodbaths and murders Matteo Messina Denaro, also known as “U Siccu” and “Diabolik,” was born in Castelvetrano on April 26, 1962. From a young age he followed in the footsteps of his father, Francesco, and became one of the main leaders of the Cosa Nostra. His name is associated with tragic events such as the Capaci massacre and the bombing of Via D’Amelio. Messina Denaro was the organizer and instigator of the 1993 attacks. He also orchestrated the kidnapping and murder of the young Giuseppe Di Matteo, the son of a defector, who was dissolved in acid after 25 months of captivity.

Despite his involvement in these heinous crimes, Messina Denaro evaded capture for almost three decades, becoming one of the most wanted criminals in the world. His network of protectors, made up of family members and loyal associates, protected him until the day of his arrest in Palermo, where he was undergoing medical treatment.

During his criminal career, he collected dozens of murders. “I could fill a cemetery with the people I’ve killed,” he once said. An atypical mafia boss, he never married, he had several mistresses. He acknowledged a daughter, Lorenza, only shortly before his death. Messina Denaro was the mastermind behind a transformation of Cosa Nostra into a quieter and more enterprising organization involved in large-scale distribution and renewable energy.

From arrest to death After his arrest, Messina Denaro was transferred to the maximum security prison in L’Aquila, where he spent the last eight months of his life. The boss suffered from severe colon cancer and received medical care in prison, but his condition continued to deteriorate until his death. During this period, he did not cooperate with justice and refused to repent, rejecting the accusations of membership of Cosa Nostra and denying his involvement in the massacres and murders. The state ensured that he received the medical care that everyone was entitled to. His arrest was a major operation, made possible by the boss’s state of health, which forced him to seek treatment. His body was returned to Castelvetrano two days after his death, where his closest relatives were waiting. No public funerals were held, as ordered by the police chief. In the cemetery of Castelvetrano were his sister Giovanna, his brother Salvatore, his nephews and his daughter Lorenza, who was recognized only a few weeks before his death. His body was interred in the family chapel, marking the final act.

The network of facilitators As the figure of Matteo Messina Denaro faded, investigations continued to expose the network of accomplices that made his long-term evasion possible. Today, a year after his death, the trials continue against those who helped him go underground. Some have already yielded a verdict, such as that of his sister Rosalia Messina Denaro, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The same sentence was imposed on Andrea Bonafede, the surveyor from Campobello who lent his identity to the boss. Several trials are ongoing against those who may have helped the boss in his evasion, including food suppliers, Laura Bonafede, Messina Denaro’s mistress, and even his daughter Martina Gentile. A trial is being held today for Dr. Alfonso Tumbarello, a general practitioner from Campobello di Mazara, accused of external complicity in mafia association and forgery. Tumbarello is accused of issuing numerous medical certificates under the name “Andrea Bonafede”, the false identity Messina Denaro used for medical treatment. Today’s hearing will feature the final requests for evidence, marking the beginning of the final phase of the trial. The charges against Tumbarello are just one of many proceedings against those who facilitated Messina Denaro’s evasion, demonstrating how deep-rooted the protection network surrounding the boss was.

Ongoing investigations Meanwhile, investigations continue to reconstruct the network of facilitators, not only from the last period of evasion. During searches carried out after his arrest, detectives found 122 keys that opened various garages and apartments between Mazara del Vallo and Castelvetrano. Some of these places may have been used as hideouts by the boss during his evasion. Among the more curious findings are letters written by a prisoner, Massimo Antonino Sfraga from Marsala, which could shed light on further mafia connections and complicity between Cosa Nostra and other criminal organizations. Investigations continue to delve into Messina Denaro’s past, in an attempt to clarify how he managed to stay hidden for so long and who helped him. The case is still open and detectives are determined to reveal the full truth about one of the darkest periods in the Sicilian mafia’s history.