New Lead Emerges in Orlandi Case as Parliamentary Inquiry Uncovers Handwritten Note
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A newly identified lead in the long-running disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi has come to light through the ongoing work of the bicameral commission examining the cases of both Orlandi and Mirella Gregori. The body, chaired by Senator Andrea De Priamo, is moving cautiously but firmly as it evaluates what it describes as previously unseen documentation.
De Priamo explained to ANSA that the commission, supported by the Carabinieri’s ROS unit, located an unpublished note written by Orlandi. In it, she references what appears to be a small theatre-cineforum—referred to as “il montaggio delle attrazioni”—located on Via Cassia, not far from the home of the late B-movie director Bruno Mattei. According to the senator, Orlandi describes the venue and a stage production held there roughly a month before her disappearance.
While stressing that the matter is still subject to verification and confidentiality, De Priamo acknowledged that the proximity to Mattei raises natural questions. The filmmaker reportedly had connections with several students at the music school Orlandi attended. Yet the senator also observed, with modest caution, that it is striking such a note had never been highlighted over decades of inquiries.
Mattei’s name had previously surfaced during a hearing on 1 July involving Alfonso Montesanti, who at the time of Orlandi’s disappearance was married to Patrizia De Lellis. Her parents worked at the Ludovico da Victoria music school, which Orlandi attended, and De Lellis herself was said to have had a relationship with Mattei. The commission is now assessing whether these older intersections carry any operational relevance.
Still, the commission appears most focused on the implications of the handwritten note itself—particularly as it may illuminate Orlandi’s social circles and the cultural environments that piqued her interest. De Priamo emphasized that the inquiry is advancing on all available fronts, without premature conclusions. He noted that the so-called “London lead,” once circulated widely, now increasingly appears to have been an intentional diversion, including at the expense of Pietro Orlandi. Work is underway to understand who engineered it and for what purpose.
Similarly, the panel has evaluated the “family-friend” theory, scrutinizing potential shadows around the late Mario Meneguzzi, Orlandi’s uncle. To date, however, investigators have not identified concrete evidence tying him to her disappearance.
Addressing another long-debated figure, De Priamo stated that the commission is nevertheless reviewing the self-incriminating claims of Marco Accetti, though he voiced personal skepticism about the man’s credibility. Recent testimony from two journalists, meanwhile, has reinvigorated aspects of the international-connection hypothesis, which remains under assessment.
The commission is also examining possible intersections with the recent excavations at Rome’s Casa del Jazz, linked to the disappearance of Judge Adinolfi and potential connections to the Banda della Magliana. De Priamo said that certain points merit further scrutiny, particularly in light of two episodes in which Orlandi was reportedly followed, as recounted by her peers from the Sant’Anna group. The chair stressed that the team is proceeding methodically, steering clear of speculative or dramatized interpretations.
Overall, the commission’s posture remains grounded in a traditional, sober approach: continue consolidating facts, stress-test each theory, and avoid shortcuts.
