Teen Accused of Killing Tourist by Dropping Pagan Statue From Balcony

A 13-year-old boy is facing serious charges after a tourist was killed by a falling figurine in Naples, Italy. The incident, which occurred in 2024, has only recently come to light through court proceedings. Thirty-year-old Chiara Jaconis was walking with her partner, Livio Russo, along a narrow street when the teenager allegedly dropped a two-kilogram statue of a pagan deity from a third-floor balcony. The object struck Jaconis on the head, causing severe brain injuries. She died in the hospital shortly afterward. According to local reports, the boy had previously thrown other items from the same balcony, including a remote control and a tablet. Prosecutors argue that the teen’s parents failed to supervise him, leading to charges of involuntary manslaughter. The parents deny the allegations, claiming the statue did not belong to them. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for June 26, 2026. Jaconis’s family says they are determined to see justice done. The couple had been in Naples to celebrate her birthday. This tragedy echoes another recent case in which a popular blogger died while celebrating her birthday in Africa, with initial reports pointing to suffocation.