Rome – An American man named Francis Charles Kaufmann, 46, has been sent from Greece to Italy to face charges for killing his 28-year-old partner, Anastasia Trofimova, and their 11-month-old daughter, Andromeda, on June 7. The bodies were found in Rome’s Villa Pamphilj park, hidden under bushes and black bags.
Kaufmann was caught on June 13 in Skiathos, Greece, after Italian police got a tip. He left Italy soon after killing two people, but was caught and jailed on the Greek island.
He was taken to Rome this morning on an Italian Air Force jet and then taken straight to Rebibbia jail. Kaufmann is said to have had violent outbursts in Greece and during the transfer, damaging his cell, threatening staff, and accusing officials of mistreatment. When he got to Rome, he said he had been beaten and was taken to the hospital with a guard.
Italian authorities said that DNA from the child and saliva and blood found on the plastic sheet that was used to hide the bodies connect Kaufmann to the crime scene.
He is being charged with killing two people and hiding a body. A preliminary hearing is due in a few days, and he is still being held at Rebibbia before his sentencing.
Kaufmann is said to have used the alias “Rexal Ford” and pretended to be a film director, which made the scandal even worse. He is accused of getting almost $1 million in tax breaks from Italy’s Culture Ministry for a movie that was never made. High-level officials quit because of this, including the head of cinema for the government and the president of Cinecittà.
What Will Happen Next?
- Court proceedings begin with a preliminary hearing for Kaufmann, at which point a judge will decide what the formal trial will cover.
- Further DNA and forensic analysis: Investigators are likely to share more detailed evidence that connects Kaufmann to the crime scene.
- Legal developments: He said he was innocent in Greek court, but Italian prosecutors say there is strong proof that he was at the scene of the crime and that his behavior is “suspicious” because of the circumstances of his escape.
Given that Kaufmann is an American citizen and is accused of fraud against Italian government institutions, this case is already putting a strain on diplomatic and legal links. People on both sides of the Atlantic will be paying close attention to the hearing.
