Angela Calentano went missing in August, 1996, during a family picnic in Naples, Italy, and now nearly three decades later a judge has called for a Turkish lead to be pursued
A judge has ruled for a woman to be DNA tested to see if she is a missing girl who was kidnapped nearly 30 years ago during a family picnic.
Catello Celentano was on holiday with his family in Naples, in August, 1996, when his daughter Angela, three, ran over to him to complain about friends not letting her use a hammock. It turned out to be the last time he ever saw her as after turning away momentarily while he got up, she had disappeared. Her devastated family have waited patiently for any clue that would show little Angela was still alive after all this time in a case which has been compared to Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.
They clung to any hope they could, and it was more than a decade after she went missing that they got another shred of hope. An Italian woman Vincenza Trentinella, told police that Angela is living with a man who she believes is her father on the island of Buyukada, near Istanbul, Turkey.
She claimed the information was given to her by a dying priest, who allegedly said it was revealed to him during a confession. Ms Trentinella claimed she had travelled to Turkey and met with Angela, as well as her alleged abductor.
Italian police are now re-examining the case in co-operation with authorities in Turkey. The initial investigation had stalled after Turkish authorities chose to not look any further after they had reportedly been given a fake number of the man, Fahfi Bey, who was a self-styled vet.
Judge Federica Colucci has now ordered a new investigation to look into this Turkish lead with the photos of the girl, provided by Ms Trentinella, showing a strong resemblance to Angela.
Witnesses in Turkey are to be spoken with and an attempt will be made to identify the woman who could be Angela. Naples Prosecutor’s Office had called for the case to be closed but Judge Colucci has given the go-ahead for a DNA test to be done on the woman when identified.
Ms Trentinella on the possibility the woman could be Angela now told Corriere del Mezzogiorno: “When I met her I saw a very strong resemblance to her mother and her sister. But the DNA will dispel any doubts.”
Angela’s parents have received numerous anonymous reports of sightings over the years, taking them to places as far flung as Mexico, South Africa, and Venezuela, and many DNA tests have been made but have not provided a match.
Her father previously said: “Until I am certain that my daughter is dead, until I have a body to cry on, I will continue to look for her alive. Even if I have to go to the end of the world.”