Ramon Berloso

Ramon Berloso (1975 – 20August 2010), known as The Crossbow Killer , was an Italian serial killer who killed two prostitutes in Udine (northeastern Italy), between March and May 2010, a few years after being released from prison for a prior manslaughter conviction. He confessed to both killings after his arrest but killed himself before his trial could begin.

Early life Little is known about Berloso's early life. Born in 1975 in the comune of Farra d'Isonzo in the Province of Gorizia, he was the only son of a local couple who were well-respected by their neighbors. Berloso experienced no known instances of neglect or abuse during his youth, but was described as a shy child who mostly kept to himself and indulged in his passion for motocross, frequently visiting the Motor Expo Racing track.

Crimes Death of Alessandro Paglavech On 24October 1993, the 17-year-old Berloso signed up to participate in a motocross race near Farra d'Isonzo, but instead wound up in an argument with an 18-year-old boy named Alessandro Paglavech. He later retracted these claims and admitted responsibility for the crime, due to which he was convicted on a manslaughter charge and sentenced to 6years and 8months imprisonment. He was incarcerated at the Marca Juvenile Prison while serving this sentence, and according to an ex-girlfriend, he became more cold, shy and grumpy towards her, leading to her breaking up with him.

"Crossbow Killer" murders Berloso began to solicit prostitutes and escorts in early 2010. He first contacted 28-year-old Ilenia Vecchiato, a part-time beautician based in Bologna who also offered sexual services, sometime in early March. After picking her up, he drove to a villa owned by an elderly couple he had previously worked for and offered to have sex there, as it was currently uninhabited. When they got there, however, Berloso instead hit Vecchiato on the head with an iron bar and then shot her in the head with a crossbow dart. After stealing (equivalent to about at the time and $ currently), her mobile phone and credit card, Berloso buried her body on a riverbank near Tapogliano. When this failed, she threw herself out of the moving car, but was injured and unable to escape. Berloso caught up with her, took out the crossbow from the trunk of the car and shot her once in the stomach. According to his later confessions, he watched as Alexiu begged him to drive her to the hospital, supposedly almost convincing him in the end, but she succumbed to her injuries before that could happen.

Confessions and suicide After being transferred to the police station in Udine, Berloso readily confessed to both murders and pointed out where he had buried the bodies, as well as where he had abandoned the crossbow used in both killings. Medical staff were immediately notified and rushed him to the medical wing, where he was declared to be comatose due to the effects of cerebral hypoxia.

Berloso was kept on life support for fifteen days, until he was declared legally brain dead. As a result, his life support was turned off, with him dying shortly afterwards.