"Demon presence"

Family murdered: “The devil took them”

Because he was convinced that his family was "possessed by demons", a 54-year-old man is said to have murdered his wife (41) and two sons (16 and five years old). Only the daughter was spared.

A terrible tragedy took place in the Italian coastal city of Palermo on Friday. Giovanni B. is said to have murdered his wife Antonella Salamone (41) and their two sons Kevin (16) and Emanuel (5). He contacted the police at around 3 a.m. on Sunday morning: "I killed my family, I'm waiting for you in Casteldaccia, come and get me", "L'Unita" quoted him as saying.

Man only spared daughter
Only the 17-year-old daughter was spared - it is still unclear why. She was found by rescue workers and was in shock. She said that she woke up in the night and found the bodies of her brothers. Her father was a "religious fanatic" and "obsessed" with religion.

B., on the other hand, is convinced that his family was "taken by the devil". He would have had the task of eradicating this "demonic presence". He had strangled his sons, he confessed. Investigators found an iron chain in the house where the tragedy took place. The children may have been tortured before the murder. The mother's body was only found charred in the garden after hours of searching.

Mother's body burnt
There is evidence to suggest that B. did not act alone. A married couple is said to be involved in the murder. The perpetrator is also said to have contacted a self-proclaimed healer and exorcist who claimed to be able to cast out the devil.

His fanaticism is clear from his Facebook profile. It is full of esoteric and religious texts and videos about God, Satan and cults.