Ambulance Driver Arrested for Killing Elderly Patients in Italy

Prosecutors in the northern Italian city of Forlì are investigating a 27-year-old ambulance driver on suspicion of murdering at least five elderly patients. The suspect, identified in reports as Luca Spada, is accused of causing cardiac arrests in patients while transporting them in an ambulance operated out of Forlimpopoli.

The investigation focuses on a series of suspicious deaths involving elderly patients who were being treated for serious illnesses. According to a spokesman from the Forlì prosecutor’s office, the victims required non-emergency transportation between their homes, nursing care facilities, and various hospitals or clinics in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Investigation and Evidence

The investigation began after the ambulance service became suspicious of a pattern of deaths. Between February and November 2025, four patients who had been transported in the suspect’s ambulance died. In response, the service coordinated with the carabinieri police force to install hidden cameras and recording devices in the back of the vehicle.

The inquiry intensified in November 2025 following the death of an 85-year-old woman. The patient suffered a cardiac arrest while being transported from a cardiac hospital to a rehabilitation center and was pronounced dead while still inside the ambulance. An autopsy performed on the woman provided the evidence necessary for the case to be handed over to prosecutors.

Further evidence emerged from the testimonies of the suspect’s colleagues. According to reporting by la Repubblica, coworkers provided information that helped launch the inquiry after discovering a syringe and a scalpel in the suspect’s pocket.

Intercepted Communications

Authorities have reportedly intercepted conversations and recordings that reveal the suspect’s state of mind during the crimes. In these communications, the driver expressed a lack of empathy for the victims and an intention to continue the killings.

Obese and old, it is right that she dies

Corriere della Sera

Other intercepted phrases attributed to the suspect include claims that the patients suffer too much and that he will do it again. In reports from ANSA, the suspect is described as stating, I like it, I want to do it again.

Current Legal Status

The 27-year-old driver, who had worked for the ambulance service since 2023, was employed by the Italian Red Cross. He has since been suspended from his duties. While he is under criminal investigation, reports from CNN indicate that he has not yet been arrested.

The suspect’s defense attorney, Gloria Parigi, has confirmed his suspension from the ambulance service. Prosecutors are currently examining additional cases, suggesting that the number of potential victims could increase as the investigation widens. While some reports cite five victims, other sources, including the Daily Express and The Herald, indicate the number may be six.

The cases all involve a similar pattern where patients suffered cardiac arrests during transport. Investigative sources told the ANSA state news agency that they believe the man may have administered harmful substances to the patients during their transfers between healthcare facilities.