MMA Fanatic Teen Allegedly Lured Woman, 42, and Killed Her with Barbell Weights in 'Garage of Horrors': Authorities

Mar. 15, 2025

Maria Campai (left); and a 17-year-old suspect.Photo:Jam Press

Jam Press

Maria Campai, 42, was found dead last month in a municipality in the Italian province of Mantua, leading to the arrest of the teenager, according to several Italian news outlets includingRai News,La StampaandCorriere Della Serare.

Campai’s body was found nearly a week after she disappeared on Sept. 19,La Stampareported. It is alleged she was killed on the same night, peril Giornaleandla Repubblica.

The nature of the killing has led local media such asil Giornale, Leggo.it andParma Todayto dub the case as “garage of horrors."

The suspect, who is not named in the reports, is accused of killing Campai in his family’s garage and hiding her body outside an abandoned house, Rai News,la RepubblicaandGazzetta di Mantovareported, citing the local juvenile prosecutor’s office, an investigating judge and a confession provided to police, respectively.

Campai was reported missing on Sept. 19, perRai NewsandLeggo.it.

The suspect allegedly met Campai on a dating website that day and recruited her for paid sex services, perLa Stampa, which cited prosecutors, andil Giornaleand Leggo.it.

The 17-year-old suspect.Jam Press

An autopsy revealed she was allegedly beaten in her face and head and punched, perCorriere Della Sera,Gazzetta di ParmaandLeggo.it.

The suspect also allegedly suffocated her using a martial arts move, which involved squeezing her neck between his arm and forearm, Leggo.it,Gazzetta di ParmaandCorriere Della Serareported, citing an autopsy and prosecutors.

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The teenager has been charged with premeditated voluntary homicide and concealment of a corpse, perla Repubblica,Rai News and Leggo.it.

The suspect’s lawyer told Rai News the defense is not making any statements because “the media hype has already hurt the investigation and the boy.”

“Now the judge will evaluate the statements and decide which measure to apply,” the lawyer said, per the outlet.

source: people.com