Donato Bilancia
ItalyBiography of Donato Bilancia
Donato "Walter" Bilancia was born in 1951 in Potenza, Italy. When he was five years old, his family moved to the north of Italy. During his childhood, Donato faced severe mistreatment from his close relatives. He was subjected to humiliation, such as his soiled mattress being hung on the balcony for everyone to see. Additionally, his allegedly underdeveloped genitals were displayed to his relatives. Donato's family showed no sympathy or understanding towards him, despite the fact that he would later become a cruel serial killer.
At the age of 14, he changed his name to "Walter" and dropped out of school. He worked various jobs such as a mechanic, bartender, baker, and courier. As a minor, he was involved in multiple thefts, including stealing a scooter and a truck full of sweets. In 1974, he was arrested and imprisoned for possessing illegal weapons. During his one-and-a-half-year sentence, he underwent psychiatric tests but managed to escape from the hospital. Despite his clearly disturbed mental state, Donato Bilancia did not display any inclination towards violence until the age of 47.
The First Murders
Living alone and being a compulsive gambler, Donato committed his first murder by strangling his friend in the fall of 1997. This act of violence was triggered by a gambling game. The thrill of killing awakened an interest and pleasure in him.
Following his first murder, he continued to kill. His victims included a night watchman, a currency exchange cashier, and multiple prostitutes. The number of victims kept increasing. Interestingly, one of his potential victims, a prostitute, survived and provided the police with a verbal description of the criminal. In April 1998, Donato boarded a train from Genoa to Venice with the intention of killing a woman. He shot a young woman in the head in the train's toilet, using a .38 caliber pistol, as he had done before. Six days later, he repeated the same act in a train to San Remo. Both victims showed signs of sexual assault.
The Manhunt
As news of his crimes spread, the police initiated a systematic manhunt. Through media channels, the police advised residents of northern Italy not to travel alone on night trains. Additionally, police patrols were organized to accompany night trains. Before his arrest, Donato committed his last crime at a gas station, stealing approximately 2 million lire or $1000.
The police tracked Donato by his fingerprints left on cigarette butts and coffee cups, as well as the semen found on the victims' bodies. They also searched for him based on his distinctive old black Mercedes. On May 6, 1998, he was apprehended at his home in Genoa, where the murder weapon was also discovered. Donato did not resist arrest. After eight days in custody, he began to confess and admitted to 17 episodes of crimes.
Legal Proceedings
The trial of Donato Bilancia lasted for 11 months. He was sentenced to 13 life imprisonments without the right to appeal, as well as an additional 20 years for attempted murder.
