The leader of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra was only arrested in mid-January. At that time, he was treated under a false name at a private clinic in the island’s capital, Palermo. He never made a confession. There was no more trial.
The health of the criminal, who was suffering from colon cancer, had deteriorated drastically in recent days. On Friday night, the doctors responsible for the treatment announced that the multiple murderer had fallen into a coma, from which he would never wake up.
At his request, life support measures were discontinued. Relatives were able to say goodbye to Messina Denaro. According to media reports, his daughter, who was born during his years in hiding, was with him in his last hours.
APA/AFP/Press Office of the Italian Carabinieri Messina Denaro during his arrest earlier this year
Committed or ordered dozens of murders
According to the investigation, as a member of Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian native committed or organized dozens of murders – including the attacks on two mafia hunters Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in 1992, which made headlines around the world. At that time, several bodyguards and other companions also died.
He would also have helped plan the kidnapping of little Giuseppe Di Matteo in 1993: the boy was kidnapped so that his father would not testify in court. After 779 days, mobsters strangled him just before his 15th birthday and dissolved his body in acid.
Rise to leader of Cosa Nostra
At this time, Messina Denaro began to rise to the position of head of Cosa Nostra. He was considered a confidant and later successor to former godfathers Salvatore “Toto” Riina and Bernardo Provenzano. Riina was called “boss of bosses”. He was arrested on January 15, 1993, almost exactly 30 years before Messina Denaro. Riina and Provenzano died in prison in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Messina Denaro had known for a long time that she had cancer. He had already been receiving treatment for several months at the private clinic where he was finally arrested. He was found to be a patient called Andrea Bonafede, he underwent surgery and also attended follow-up examinations. When he was detained, he also had an identity card with that name and even a tax number.
To this day, the public has not discovered how he managed to stay hidden for so long. It is assumed that he also had supporters on the state side. Anti-mafia writer Roberto Saviano, who lives under constant police protection, said on the day of his arrest: “Like all bosses, he stayed exactly where everyone knows he can be found.” he immediately admitted: “I am Matteo Messina Denaro.” Other patients who were present at the police operation applauded.
“You caught me because I’m sick.”
According to investigators, Messina Denaro was never willing to cooperate with authorities, even after his arrest. During an interrogation, he reportedly said, “I don’t want to make a fuss about Superman or seem arrogant. You got me because I’m sick.” During her time in prison, Messina Denaro had to undergo two operations, the most recent in August. He also received chemotherapy. According to doctors, in the last few hours he only received painkillers.