• Italian model and entrepreneur Pamela Genini, 29, was stabbed more than 30 times by ex-partner Gianluca Soncin, 52, in her Milan apartment.
• Autopsy reveals at least three fatal wounds to the chest as Soncin faces murder charges with aggravating circumstances including premeditation and stalking.
• Neighbors witnessed the attack on her balcony and heard her final screams for help before police arrived too late.

MILAN, Italy (TDR) — Italian model and reality TV star Pamela Genini was brutally murdered by her former partner Gianluca Soncin in her Milan apartment on Oct. 14, with autopsy results revealing she suffered more than 30 stab wounds in what prosecutors describe as a premeditated femicide. The 29-year-old businesswoman died on her third-floor balcony while neighbors watched helplessly and police rushed to break down her door.

A year of threats and violence

Genini had been in a relationship with Soncin, 52, for approximately one year before deciding to end things. Friends and her former boyfriend told investigators that Soncin had threatened to kill Genini, her family and even her beloved dog if she left him. The couple had briefly lived together in Cervia, a seaside town in Emilia-Romagna, before Genini broke off the relationship and moved back to Milan.

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On Sept. 3, Genini suffered a broken finger during an assault by Soncin in Cervia. She sought medical treatment the next day in Seriate, telling doctors her partner had attacked her. Despite the documented abuse and carabinieri involvement in the dispute, she never filed a formal police report, which prosecutors now describe as a “bitter” situation.

Final moments captured

On the evening of Oct. 14 at approximately 9:22 p.m., Genini was on the phone with her ex-boyfriend and close friend when Soncin entered her apartment in the Gorla district using a duplicate key he had secretly made. She managed to text “Teso, I’m scared he’s got a duplicate key, he’s broken in, I don’t know what to do, call the police” before the attack began.

When police arrived and buzzed the intercom, Genini attempted to deceive Soncin by saying “Glovo, second floor,” pretending it was a food delivery service. Officers broke down the door but found Genini already stabbed dozens of times on the balcony. Multiple neighbors reported hearing her screams and desperate pleas of “Help! Help!” Witnesses claim they saw Soncin dragging her onto the terrace before the fatal attack.

Autopsy reveals brutal attack

The autopsy conducted on Oct. 17 confirmed Genini suffered more than 30 stab wounds, significantly more than the 24 initially reported. At least three wounds to her chest proved fatal. Milan prosecutor Alessia Menegazzo noted the victim sustained a “non-instantaneous” death, giving her time to realize she was dying, an element prosecutors cite as evidence of the cruelty aggravating circumstance.

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After police entered the apartment, Soncin attempted suicide by slashing his own throat twice. He survived and was treated at Milan’s Niguarda Hospital before being transferred to San Vittore prison, where he remains in solitary confinement.

Model and entrepreneur

Genini had built a successful career in Milan’s fashion industry and co-founded the swimwear brand EP SheLux with influencer Elisa Bartolotti. She also worked in luxury real estate and appeared on the Italian reality dating show “The Island of Adam and Eve” at age 19. In September, she walked the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival.

Italy’s femicide crisis

Genini’s death marks the 17th femicide in Italy in 2025, reigniting national debate about domestic violence prevention. Italian entrepreneur Marcella Cannariato wrote on Instagram: “A death that could have been avoided. Pamela had called for help. She said she wanted to leave him. He had shown his fear. But his voice has gone unheard.”

Soncin faces charges of voluntary homicide with aggravating circumstances including premeditation, cruelty, stalking and futile motives. During questioning, he exercised his right to remain silent. A judge has confirmed all aggravating circumstances and ordered him held in custody.

Can Italy’s legal system evolve quickly enough to prevent the next woman from becoming another femicide statistic?

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