The burnt remains of football journalist Luigi 'Luca' Esposito were discovered in a remote field in Salerno, Italy, earlier this month. Authorities are investigating the death as a murder.
Esposito, 53, was reported missing on Saturday, July 18, by friends who had lost contact with him. Emergency services responded to a blaze in a field in the early hours of Sunday, where they found his charred remains.
Prosecutors believe journalist was shot before being set on fire
Prosecutors in Salerno, led by anti-mafia chief Raffaele Cantone, are treating the case as a murder. Officers recovered bullet casings near Esposito's body at Bivio Cioffi in Salerno. His car was discovered nearby, which helped identify him, according to reports from The Mirror.
An autopsy is scheduled to confirm the exact cause of death. Investigators are examining Esposito's private life for possible motives, including financial or passionate disputes. Police have not ruled out any theories.
Colleagues and family remember the journalist
Esposito, originally from Nocera Inferiore and a passionate Salernitana 1919 fan, ran the website TuttoSalernitana.com. He also worked as a columnist for La Città di Salerno and as a regular pundit on OttoChannel TV, covering Serie B sides including Avellino and Juve Stabia.
OttoChannel director Pierluigi Melillo said: "Luca was a precious collaborator – awkward but never banal, always brave in defending his opinions on football. He was due to be one of our star pundits next season." Melillo added that the team was "shocked and incredulous" at the "horrible execution."
Esposito, who had 15,500 Instagram followers, held two degrees in biology and literature. His sister described him as a calm man with no known enemies. No arrests have been made, and the investigation continues.
