Netflix's limited series, The Monster of Florence, has been gripping true crime enthusiasts worldwide.
The series brings to life the investigation into a chilling series of eight double murders that occurred on the outskirts of Florence between 1968 and 1985.
The victims were couples seeking privacy in lovers' lanes, with the killer employing a variety of weapons.
Filming took place in and around Florence, where the real-life events unfolded, and it was one of Italy's most protracted and intricate criminal investigations.
Audiences are eager to find out if the infamous serial killer was ever apprehended.
Was The Monster of Florence ever caught?
The Italian media coined the name The Monster of Florence, despite none of the murders taking place within the city itself.
It wasn't until 1981 that police recognised a connection between the killings, and in the early 1990s, the Florence Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation.
Several individuals linked to the lovers' lane murders were convicted, but the true identity of The Monster of Florence remains unknown, and they have never been apprehended.
There are numerous theories about the killer's identity, but the Netflix drama focuses on one of the least explored paths.
The 'Sardinian trail' theory suggests that the murderer may have had connections to the Meles, a family of Sardinian immigrants living in Tuscany.
Over the years, three men have faced charges related to the case, which was reopened by law enforcement in the 2000s.
As recently as 2022, the victims' families were still campaigning for evidence to be re-examined.
Pietro Pacciani was initially convicted in 1994, but his conviction was overturned on appeal in 1996.
Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti were the last suspects to be convicted in 2000, having been linked to some of the double murders.
Francesco Calamandrei was put on trial but was acquitted in 2008.
The Monster of Florence is on Netflix
