Edlira Dobrushi

Background

Edlira Dobrushi, aged 37, killed her 3 children in their beds in Lecco near Milan in northern Italy. Her husband had left her. Police said the husband and father of the children had left Italy on Friday to travel back to his native Albania, and he had been traced to a relative’s home close to the country’s second city Durres and informed of the children’s deaths.

The offence

Police found the mother and the apartment covered in blood after the murder of her 3 children. Officers and paramedics described the scene as shocking, including descriptions of seeing “rivers of blood” and the blood “flowing like a river all across the apartment.”

Edlira Dobrushi stabbed her 3 daughters to death in their beds. Police said all three girls, named as Simona, Casey and Lindsey, had suffered multiple stab wounds from a kitchen knife. The girls were declared dead on the scene by officers and health workers. Police and witnesses said neighbours had called emergency services after being woken by Dobrushi’s blood-curdling screams.

Police said Dobrushi was also covered in blood and that she had injured herself on the wrists and neck with a kitchen knife. An ambulance spokesman said the wounds “It looks like they were self inflicted - she was in such a state.”

The girls’ bodies were described as being in their own bedrooms, with police saying they had been dumped on the mother’s bed.

Investigation

Lt Colonel Rocco Italiano, of the paramilitary Carabinieri police, described the apartment scene:

‘The whole apartment was covered in blood. There was nothing that could be done for the victims – they were all dead with multiple stab wounds from a kitchen knife. ‘The woman herself was also covered in blood and in a very confused state. She kept screaming that she had killed her children. The husband and father of the children had left Italy on Friday and was traced to Albania. ‘They had split up and he was going home to tell his family they were no longer together. They had financial difficulties but that is no excuse for the level of violence on three innocent children.’

An ambulance spokesman said:

‘The mother was taken to hospital where she was sedated and also treated for wounds to her throat and wrists. It looks like they were self inflicted – she was in such a state. The flat was covered in blood. ‘The blood was flowing like a river all across the apartment. It was a shocking sight as the guys involved have children of their own as well. She kept saying her husband had left her and she was in a desperate situation.’

Interior minister Angelino Alfano said:

‘We will not let whoever committed this terrible crime get away with it.’

Arrest

Edlira Dobrushi was arrested by police and was being held in custody accused of murder. She was in a confused state and required sedation by hospital staff.

During questioning by police, Dobrushi confessed to the killings while being questioned. Police reported that she screamed, “I’ve killed them all.”

Trial

Edlira Dobrushi remained in prison pending trial and was expected to appear before an investigating magistrate after confessing to the killings while being questioned by police.

Outcome

The 3 daughters—Simona (13), Casey (10), and Lindsey (4)—were declared dead on the scene.

Aftermath

Police said Dobrushi’s husband and father of the children had been traced to a relative’s home close to Durres in Albania and informed of the deaths, and he was said to have broken down hysterically.