The 2007 murder of Chiara Poggi in the small town of Garlasco, Italy, remains one of the most debated criminal cases in recent Italian history. Her boyfriend, Alberto Stasi—calm, composed, and seemingly unshaken – was eventually convicted after years of legal back-and-forth. Yet to this day, the case continues to stir interest not only for its legal twists, but for the psychological profile of the accused.
Why did someone with no visible history of aggression, no outbursts, and no emotional extremes become the main suspect in a violent crime? And more importantly, what can this case teach us about the mental health signals often overlooked in seemingly quiet, rational individuals?
To answer these questions, Dr Gottardo, a psychologist specialising in emotional manipulation and toxic relationship dynamics, offers a compelling mental health perspective that goes beyond courtroom analysis.
“The greatest mistake in personality assessment – especially in potentially abusive or violent scenarios – is trusting appearances,” Gottardo explains. “Calmness can be a disguise. What looks like emotional neutrality might actually be deep emotional inhibition.”
Gottardo highlights a mental health condition often misunderstood by the general public: alexithymia, the inability to recognize and express emotions.
“In some people,” he says, “this emotional disconnection doesn’t just limit their ability to form healthy relationships – it dulls empathy, numbs guilt, and creates fertile ground for suppressed emotions to accumulate silently. And when they explode, they do so with devastating force.”
Stasi’s case, with his cold demeanour, flat affect, and lack of overt emotional response to his partner’s death, invites reflection on what we perceive as “normal.” In the mental health field, these traits are never assessed in isolation.
“Introversion and excessive self-control can form an internal pressure cooker,” Gottardo warns. “When anger, resentment, or jealousy are never processed or expressed, the risk is that they build up invisibly – until something breaks.”
That said, Gottardo is quick to clarify: none of these characteristics alone equate to violent behavior. Mental health professionals do not draw direct lines between introversion or alexithymia and acts of violence.
“Plenty of people live with emotional blocks or struggle with communication, and never hurt a soul. Mental health is about context, patterns, and how we relate to others over time; not about isolated traits.”
As for other elements that emerged in the Stasi investigation – such as the presence of erotic or fetishistic content on his computer – Gottardo is clear: “Sexual preferences, as long as they are consensual and do not involve harm to self or others, are not a marker of danger. Pathologizing sexuality is misleading and harmful.”
So, what should we learn from this case – especially from a mental health standpoint?
“We need to understand how little we often know about the emotional states of those closest to us,” Gottardo explains. “Toxic dynamics, emotional coldness, or underlying psychological distress can remain hidden for years – especially when they’re normalized, minimised, or misunderstood.”
To address this issue, Dr Gottardo is working on a book due out in September with Autoritas Editore, aimed at helping people recognize the subtle signs of mental and emotional imbalance in intimate relationships. His goal is to empower readers to identify early warning signals before relationships turn toxic or, in extreme cases, tragic.
“Nothing in our emotional life happens by chance. The way we attach, react, suppress, or express feelings is shaped early in life. If we truly want to prevent emotional harm, we have to look at those roots – before it’s too late.”
To learn more about Dr Gottardo, the Italian psychotherapist specialising in toxic relationships, check out his website: https://leonardogottardo.it
Adam Mulligan, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
