Headlines
Notorious sicilian mafia boss nitto santapaola dies in prison at 87
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 2, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 2, 2026
Quick Summary
Notorious Sicilian mafia boss Benedetto “Nitto” Santapaola, aged 87, has died in a Milan prison after serving over three decades in custody for multiple life sentences tied to high-profile murders including those of anti‑mafia judges Falcone and Borsellino.
Notorious Sicilian Mafia Leader Nitto Santapaola Dies in Milan Prison Aged 87
Death and Legacy of Nitto Santapaola
Passing of a Notorious Mafia Boss
ROME, March 2 (Reuters) - Benedetto "Nitto" Santapaola, a notorious Sicilian mafia boss who has been in prison for more than three decades, has died at the age of 87, two sources close to the matter said on Monday.
Santapaola, who was arrested in 1993 and was serving multiple life sentences for murder and other crimes, died in a high-security jail in Milan, one of the two sources said.
Official Response
Italy's justice ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Santapaola’s Role in the Sicilian Mafia
Leadership in Catania
Santapaola, known as "il cacciatore" (the hunter) or "il licantropo" (the werewolf), led the mafia in the eastern Sicilian city of Catania from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
Criminal Convictions
Involvement in High-Profile Murders
He was tried and convicted as one of the instigators of the 1992 murders of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two of Italy's most famous anti-mafia prosecutors.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Alvise Armellini and Angelo Amante; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Key Takeaways
- •Santapaola was arrested in May 1993 and had been serving multiple life sentences since, including for ordering the 1992 killings of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Nicknamed “Il Cacciatore” and “Il Licantropo,” he was a dominant mafia boss in Catania from the late 1970s through the early 1990s (en.wikipedia.org)
- •He died on 2 March 2026 in Milan’s Opera Prison at age 87, capping decades of incarceration following capture after a lengthy fugitive period (en.wikipedia.org)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Notorious Sicilian mafia boss Nitto Santapaola dies in prison at 87
1Who was Nitto Santapaola?
Nitto Santapaola was a notorious Sicilian mafia boss who led the mafia in Catania from the late 1970s to early 1990s.
2How old was Nitto Santapaola when he died?
Nitto Santapaola was 87 years old at the time of his death in prison.
3Where did Nitto Santapaola die?
He died in a high-security prison in Milan, Italy.
4Why was Nitto Santapaola in prison?
He was serving multiple life sentences for murder and other crimes, including being an instigator of the murders of anti-mafia prosecutors.
5What was Nitto Santapaola’s role in the mafia?
Santapaola led the mafia in the eastern Sicilian city of Catania and was involved in high-profile crimes and murders.
