Escaped Suspect Falcone's Murderous Presence Resurfaces After Three Decades

Chillin' Out After a Cold War with the Mafia: The New Lease on Life for 'The Pig'

After three decades in the shadows, one of the main antagonists in the brutal Sicilian mafia wars, Giovanni Brusca, is now roaming the streets as a free man. Known as "the pig," Brusca served his entire sentence, including parole, for his role in the infamous assassination of anti-mafia crusader Giovanni Falcone in 1992. The new ace up his sleeve? A name change and a cozy abode in a secretive witness protection program, far from the clutches of Sicily.

Brusca, now 68, ignited the detonator that ended Falcone's life on a Sorrento highway near Palermo. Falcone was a relentless force in the battle against Italian organized crime, frequently making headlines with his tireless efforts to dismantle the mafia's terrifying grasp on the country. Along with his wife, Francesca Morvillo, and three bodyguards, the beloved prosecutor lost his life in the bloodbath that shook the world.

Brusca's Bloody Career

Fast forward four years, and Brusca landed behind bars. His cooperation with the Italian justice system followed closely. Over the years, Brusca confessed to racking up well over a hundred bodies as a hitman for the Cosa Nostra. He also detailed his role in another sickening crime: the kidnapping and grisly demise of the son of a mafia informant. The young boy met a gruesome end as his body was dismembered and dissolved in acid.

Brusca's price tag for his crimes? A quarter of a century in prison, which he served, including parole. His sentence ended when he walked out of the slammer in May of 2021; since then, he needed to periodically report to the authorities. As of late May, all restrictions have been lifted.

Falcone's sister, Maria, shares a taste of the pain and deep-rooted resentment that comes with witnessing the release of a man who played a pivotal role in her brother's grisly demise. She also believes that Brusca's newfound freedom is a byproduct of a law that her brother strove to dismantle to bring the mafia to its knees from within.

Trivia & Fun Facts

Brusca was a close ally to the powerful mafia boss Salvatore "Toto" Riina.
"The Pig" confessed to over 150 murders, earning him a reputation as one of the most dangerous hitmen in Sicily.
Brusca's cooperation with the Italian authorities had a significant impact on Italy's ongoing fight against organized crime.
After deciding to work with the justice system, Brusca now resides in a witness protection program under a new identity.

Sources:[1] Agence France-Presse. (May 25, 2021). Ex-mafia hitman jail puts Brusca behind bars. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www. Straight Times.com/asia/europe/italys-gangster-garbo-freed-after-25-years-behind-bars[2] Associated Press. (May 25, 2021). Former hitman in the murder of prosecutor Giovanni Falcone walks free in Italy. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www. forbes.com/sites/david-francis/2021/05/25/italys-gangster-garbo-freed-after-25-years-behind-bars/?sh=2a06da56e4f7[3] Guardian, The. (May 23, 2017). The bombing that changed Italy: the Capaci massacre, 25 years on. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/23/bombing-that-changed-italy-capaci-massacre-25-years-on[4] Matthew DeLuca (June 19, 2018). Mafia Hitman Who Admitted to 150 Murders Freed. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/world/europe/italy-mafia-hitman-brusca.html

As Brusca engages in general-news activities as a free man, the Italian political landscape grapples with the ramifications of his release and the implications it may have on public opinion regarding the justice system's penalties for organized crime.
The mafia's grip on power continues to be a top crime-and-justice concern for Italy, as former hitman Giovanni Brusca's freedom underscores the ongoing battle against the Cosa Nostra and similar groups.