Extradited American Suspect Faces Italian Murder Charges in Rome

Picture courtesy of AP via CNN

An American man, 46, faces murder charges in Rome after extradition from Greece, accused of killing a woman and her baby.

The suspect, Francis Kaufmann, from California, was brought to Italy following his arrest in Skiathos, Greece. He allegedly used false identities, including the name Rexal Ford, to evade authorities. Kaufmann's initial court appearance at Rome’s Rebibbia prison saw him exercise his right to silence, refusing to answer questions posed by investigating judge Flavia Costantini and prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini.

The victims, Anastasia Trofimova and her 11-month-old daughter, were found at Villa Pamphili Park. The police report details the tragic starvation and strangulation of the baby, while Trofimova's cause of death remains undetermined. Identified through her distinctive tattoos by images broadcast on an Italian TV show, the connection was made by her mother in Moscow.

Interviewed later, Trofimova’s mother revealed her daughter’s relationship with Kaufmann, known to her as Rexal Ford, began in Malta. Living transiently in Rome, the family reportedly relied on soup kitchens despite Kaufmann having access to credit cards and courting investors lavishly.

Captured and extradited, Kaufmann denies the accusations. With DNA evidence implicating him in Trofimova’s murder, further tests will determine paternal links to the baby. His alias was reportedly used in film location scouting, adding layers to his complex persona.

Kaufmann’s chilling case highlights his double life as he faces a judicial process that could uncover more about his mysterious past. The focus now rests on the DNA results and the unfolding legal proceedings in Italy.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-07-17