Convicted Killer Dies After Jumping from Famed Cathedral in Shocking Incident

Milan, Italy — A convicted murderer working on day release from prison stunned Milan on Sunday when he reportedly stabbed a colleague—then leapt to his death from the rooftop of the city’s most iconic landmark, the Duomo Cathedral.

Emanuele De Maria, 35, had been serving a 14-year sentence for the brutal 2016 murder of a woman when he was granted partial freedom under Italy’s controversial work-release program. But over the weekend, that second chance came crashing down—literally.

According to Italian news agency ANSA and Corriere della Sera, De Maria attacked a coworker on Friday, stabbing the man in the neck and chest during a shift at a hotel near Milan’s central station. The victim, a 50-year-old Italian-Egyptian man, underwent emergency surgery and is expected to survive, according to Milano Today.

The shocking twist came just two days later, when De Maria, apparently on the run, made his way to the rooftop terrace of the Duomo—Milan’s breathtaking 14th-century cathedral and one of Europe’s most visited cultural sites. There, he climbed over the protective barrier and hurled himself into the crowded square below.

Eyewitnesses described the horror. “He landed just feet from a young boy clutching a stuffed animal,” recalled bar owner Emanuele Sanità. “The kid was frozen. He sat on the pavement in complete silence for twenty minutes. No tears. Just shock.”

The square, usually packed with tourists and families, was swiftly cordoned off by police as forensic teams combed the scene. Authorities later confirmed De Maria’s identity using ID documents and distinctive tattoos.

The disturbing incident is raising questions across Italy—and beyond—about how a convicted killer ended up working in public-facing hospitality so close to one of the nation’s most treasured cultural landmarks.

“This is a failure on multiple levels,” said social justice advocate Livia Morelli. “There must be rehabilitation, yes—but not without proper monitoring and mental health support. This man clearly needed both.”

De Maria had gained some notoriety in recent months after appearing on a local TV program where he spoke about prison life and his hopes for reintegration. He presented himself as reformed. Behind the scenes, it seems, a different reality was unfolding.

Now, Italians are grappling with a series of questions: How did a convicted killer evade authorities for two days after a stabbing? Why was he allowed to work in such close proximity to the public? And how did he gain access to the rooftop of one of Europe’s most tightly secured historical sites?

As investigators continue to dig into the timeline, public anger is building over Italy’s prison work-release policies—and the mental health blind spots that may have allowed this tragedy to unfold in the heart of Milan.