An 18-year-old prolific Italian student from Ventimiglia was found dead after falling from a 45-meter crane in Paris — DarkNet and Blue Whale among the hypothesis of the apparent suicide

Alessio Vinci was an 18-year-old prolific student enrolled in the Aerospace Engineering University in Turin. He was found dead on Saturday 19th of January 2019 after falling from a 45-meter tower crane located in a Paris building yard, French authorities investigated.

His motive for the alleged suicide is currently unknown. However, the young man suffered after losing his mother and was living with his grandfather, Enzo, who received a modest pension. He was also of brilliant intelligence, after finishing high-school a year earlier with a perfect 100-point final exam grade. His future was looking prosperous after enrolling into the prestigious Aerospace Engineering University in Turin.

His last message to his grandfather was sent from a hotel in Paris on the same day of his death. Telling him that he had a university class and that he was the best grandfather in the world. A message that led investigators to believe a suicide possibility.

The dismay of his grandfather and teachers:

“Why was he in France?” Enzo repeats several times. “Why has he done such a thing?”

Professor Giuseppe Monticone, principal of the high-school Liceo Scientifico Aprosio, of Ventimiglia recalls:

“He was an excellent boy and student, solar, able to form a relationship with his classmates. We are really shocked by what happened.”

His former middle school teacher, Anna Maria Giovannelli commented on his commemorative Facebook page:

“He was a good boy and model student. Scholar, intelligent, polite, humble, and sensitive. Good at sports and respectful with everyone. I want to remember you happy when you played with your classmates. You missed your mother, you suffered in silence. I tried to love you like all my colleagues, the janitors, and all your companions. Believe me, it was really easy to love you.”

On the other hand, some Instagram comments indicated a connection to the darkweb underculture, more precisely “incels” or involuntary celibates, people who cannot find romantic partners despite trying.

From a certain friend named Mario Rossier: “Another brother in heaven ‘killed’ by women, may he rests in peace.”

Another user nicknamed “kainwziabai” replied: “Rest in peace, incel brother.”

The comments seem to confirm the suicide hypothesis, taking into consideration the repetitive use of the word “brother” as to describe allegiance to some group. Also, climbing dangerously high spots is typical for the suicidal darkweb game called “the blue whale.” Details are unknown, an investigation is currently underway.