An American man has been arrested in Greece under suspicion of killing a woman and an infant who were found dead in a park in central Rome, according to Italian authorities.
The man, whose name has not been released by prosecutors, was identified by Italian news agency ANSA and several major media outlets as 46-year-old Rexal Ford of California.
He was detained on the Greek island of Skiathos on Friday afternoon, just days after the bodies of the baby girl and the woman believed to be her mother were found in Villa Pamphili, one of the busiest parks in the Italian capital.
Both mother and daughter had been sleeping in the park, ANSA reported. Their bodies were discovered on June 7, naked and without identification. The woman was found wrapped in a black plastic bag and is believed to have been killed several days before the infant, authorities said.
Chief Rome prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi told reporters there was “strong evidence” of the man’s involvement in the death of the infant. Deputy prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini said there was also “reasonable suspicion” that the incident was a double murder.
The Italian investigative news show “Chi l’ha visto?” released an image taken on June 5 that appears to show Ford holding a baby, according to Corriere della Sera. During a previous security check, Ford allegedly told police the girl was his daughter, the outlet reported.
Ford is believed to have left Rome for Skiathos on Wednesday. Italian authorities filed a request with Greek police for his arrest, and he was detained two days later. He’s expected to appear at an extradition hearing next week.
With News Wire Services
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