South Tyrol – It sounds like something out of a horror film: A man is quickly decapitated, presumably by a chainsaw. This case is not set in Mexican drug cartels, but in the Pustertal valley in South Tyrol. And the victim is a very down-to-earth guy. 24-year-old Aaron E. from Terenten is an enthusiastic Schuhplattler and is closely involved in village life.
Investigators speak of “partial beheading”
There was nothing to indicate what was to happen on the night of August 18th. At around nine o'clock in the morning, hikers discovered the young man on the Wieseralm. He was dead. The South Tyrolean media initially spoke of “deep cuts”. Next to Aaron E., but a little further away, there was a chainsaw. It must have been a gruesome sight, because investigators spoke of a “partial decapitation”.
What is known so far is that Aaron E. was at a party in the municipality of Barbian the evening before. More precisely, at a rave called Soundwende in the Tschernai district.
He is said to have taken a taxi home with four friends at around half past three. The journey was around 45 kilometers.
The young man is said to have driven from his hometown to the mountain pasture, which is located at an altitude of around 1,600 meters. According to media reports, he was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero. Apparently he had not changed his clothes.
Two chainsaws, two cars
What happened next is still unclear. According to the autopsy, the time of death was between five and six o'clock.
In addition to the chainsaw that was found with Aaron E., a second one was found in the Pajero. But the Pajero is not Aaron E's only car: a few days later, investigators examined an Audi Q5.
Was it an accident? Is it really possible for a man to nearly decapitate himself? Or was it another person? Was Aaron killed?
The public prosecutor's office apparently has suspicions, as murder investigations have been launched.
It is speculated whether there could be a third possibility besides an accident at work or a homicide: Did Aaron E. go to the mountain pasture with friends and have a chainsaw competition?
Why did the 24-year-old drive to the mountain pasture at night?
In fact, there are competitions like this on social media. The rumour mill in the Pustertal Valley is bubbling.
Aaron E. knew a lot about chainsaws. He was a forest worker by profession. But was he possibly drunk or under the influence of drugs? It is at least unusual to drive to a mountain pasture after a party and possibly be using a chainsaw in the middle of the night.
The body of Aaron E. was autopsied and it can be ruled out that he was killed somewhere else and then brought to the mountain pasture.
On Friday, the Bolzano public prosecutor's office announced that the investigation had led to new findings. According to the findings carried out so far and the results of the autopsy, it could be assumed that Aaron E.'s death was due to the head wound caused by the chainsaw found next to the body.
Homicide is unlikely
It continues: “However, even taking into account the findings made at the site and the traces secured, there is no evidence of third-party negligence.” Investigators also currently consider a homicide to be unlikely.
One of the reasons for this is that only biological traces of the victim were found on the chainsaw.
The investigators have not yet ruled out the possibility of a homicide, as the investigation is ongoing. Rumour has it that a car drove behind Aaron E. Is this just village gossip or is there something to it? The blood traces in the trunk of the Pajero are also still being examined.
