Italy's Carabinieri have taken a 51-year-old man into custody following the death of his partner in an isolated home in Ceriana, a small town in the Imperia province of Liguria. Becken Olivieri, originally from Mauritius, turned himself in and confessed to suffocating Mary Elizabeth Hopkins, a 53-year-old American woman, with a pillow during a violent argument on the evening of Friday, June 26, 2026.
The body of Hopkins was discovered the following day at the couple's residence on strada Mainardi, a rural property deep in the forested hills above Ceriana. According to investigators coordinated by Imperia prosecutor Francesco Monaco, Olivieri presented himself to Italy's Carabinieri and admitted to killing his partner following a heated dispute that escalated late Friday evening.
During interrogation, Olivieri stated he used a cushion to suffocate Hopkins. The preliminary external examination, conducted in the presence of the duty magistrate, revealed injuries consistent with both strangulation and asphyxiation by smothering. The home has been placed under judicial seizure to allow forensic technicians to complete their analysis.
Criminal Proceedings and Legal Status
Olivieri faces voluntary homicide charges and is detained at Valle Armea prison in Sanremo. Prosecutor Lari from the Imperia Procura is overseeing the investigation, while Olivieri is being represented by defense attorneys Ambra Marchesi and Marco Noto. Hopkins' body was transferred to the morgue for a full autopsy, which was scheduled to be assigned on June 29. The postmortem examination will establish the precise time and cause of death, clarifying whether the fatal mechanism was strangulation, asphyxiation by cushion, or a combination of both.
Under Italy's criminal code, voluntary homicide carries a sentence ranging from 21 years to life imprisonment. Aggravating factors—such as premeditation, particular cruelty, or a domestic relationship—can increase the severity of sentencing. At present, prosecutors have not classified the killing as a gender-based femicide with aggravating circumstances, pending further evidence.
Background and Investigation
Investigators are exploring two primary hypotheses for the killing: jealousy and financial disputes related to ongoing renovations at the couple's property. Both Hopkins and Olivieri were well-known residents of Ceriana, a municipality of fewer than 1,200 inhabitants nestled in the Ligurian hinterland roughly 15 km inland from the coast. Early investigative findings suggest the argument that night may have centered on the costs and direction of home improvement work.
Significantly, no prior reports of domestic violence involving the couple have surfaced. Italy's law enforcement databases show no record of emergency calls, restraining orders, or formal complaints from either party. This absence of documented warning signs underscores the challenge authorities face in identifying at-risk households before tragedy occurs. Investigators are examining digital records, financial documents, and witness statements from neighbors to reconstruct the hours leading up to Hopkins' death.
Regional Context and Prevention Response
The case has triggered Liguria's "inRete contro la violenza" protocol, which coordinates multi-agency response to domestic violence cases. Liguria ranked as Italy's second-highest region for homicides per capita in 2024, with femicides accounting for approximately 82% of all female murder victims. Nationally, an average of 113 women are killed each year, with 2,257 femicides recorded between 2005 and 2024.
This case is a stark reminder of the region's troubling position in national femicide statistics. Despite robust protocols and increased funding, the persistence of femicide—particularly in cases with no prior reported incidents—suggests gaps in early detection and community awareness.
Liguria has implemented a multi-layered prevention framework anchored by the "inRete contro la violenza" protocol. This regional agreement, signed by the Liguria government, municipalities, the A.Li.Sa. health authority, law enforcement agencies, the University of Genoa, and the Regional Education Office, is designed to strengthen early intervention and data collection. One critical innovation: A.Li.Sa. now flags suspicious emergency room visits. In addition to reporting confirmed cases of "violence by others," hospitals are required to review prior visits coded ambiguously as "domestic accident" or "accidental trauma" and forward this information to judicial authorities. The goal is to uncover patterns of abuse that victims may have been reluctant to report directly.
Support Infrastructure
Liguria operates a network of accredited Anti-Violence Centers (CAV) that provide free, confidential services including emergency shelter, psychological counseling, legal orientation, and socio-economic support for women and their minor children. These centers address psychological, physical, sexual, and economic violence, as well as stalking. The region has also allocated dedicated funding for six treatment centers targeting male perpetrators of domestic violence, offering therapy and rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing recidivism.
For those living in Liguria, the national anti-violence hotline, 1522, operates 24/7 in multiple languages and provides immediate assistance and referrals to local centers. Calls are free and do not appear on phone bills, offering an additional layer of confidentiality for those in dangerous situations.
Community Response
Ceriana, a quiet village known for its medieval architecture and hiking trails, has been shaken by the killing. Residents describe the couple as familiar faces in the community, though details of their private life remain largely unknown to neighbors. The tragedy renews questions about the effectiveness of Italy's prevention strategies, with advocates calling for enhanced training for medical professionals, educators, and law enforcement to recognize subtle warning signs before violence escalates to lethal levels.
