Found dead in Nice at the age of 48, Loana Petrucciani was the subject of investigations to determine the circumstances of her death. The initial results of the autopsy now direct the investigation towards a non-criminal cause.
The initial findings of the investigation into the death of Loana Petrucciani are becoming clearer. The Nice Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday, March 31, that the involvement of a third party in the death is now ruled out. This conclusion is based on the autopsy results conducted the previous day by judicial experts.
According to the statement from the Nice prosecutor, the forensic findings do not reveal any signs of intentional violence. The examination of the body mentions a superficial wound on the scalp and bruises located on various parts of the body. These elements are considered compatible with a fall.
The document specifies that these injuries correspond to “a fall from body height to the ground” and “small bruises on the back, lower back, and buttocks compatible with the hypothesis of a fall to the ground.” No signs of strangulation or blows were observed. Experts did not find any fractures either. In these conditions, the criminal avenue is abandoned at this stage of the investigation.
An undetermined cause of death
While the involvement of a third party is excluded, the exact cause of death remains unknown. The prosecutor’s office indicates that it “may be of medical or toxic origin.” Further analyses are underway to try to specify this hypothesis.
The samples taken during the autopsy are expected to provide answers in the coming days. No definitive conclusion can be drawn at this time.
Another point of uncertainty: the dating of the death. The prosecutor emphasizes that it is still impossible “to precisely date the death.” This difficulty is mainly due to the state of the body at the time of discovery.
During the initial handling, authorities indicated that the victim was “apparently deceased for several days.” This estimate remains the only temporal indication available at this stage.
About two weeks before the grisly discovery, Laurent Amar, a close friend, had gone to her home without success. “Loana didn’t open the door. Titi, her dog, was barking. I didn’t want to call the firefighters. I didn’t want to risk breaking down the door of her house for nothing”, he stated on the BFM TV broadcast.
A discovery at home in Nice
Loana Petrucciani’s body was found on March 25 at her home located in Nice. The discovery marked the starting point of the judicial investigation.
According to the initial elements communicated, the victim’s pet was also found dead on site. This information was confirmed in the first hours by the Public Prosecutor.
The exact circumstances leading to the discovery of the body have not been detailed in official statements. The investigation prioritized identifying the causes of death.
A significant figure in reality TV
The disappearance of the Cannes star has sparked numerous reactions. The media journey of the forty-something remains associated with the show Loft Story, broadcast in 2001.
This first edition marked the arrival of reality TV in France. Since the announcement of her death, several personalities have expressed their emotions. Benjamin Castaldi, former host of the show, notably reacted by recalling a memory linked to that period. “There are faces you never forget. And hers, that of Loana, is part of our history”, he declared.
These various reactions demonstrate the imprint left by this media figure, more than twenty years after the broadcast of the show.
The investigation is now continuing on the medico-legal front. The results of the toxicological and biological analyses will be crucial in establishing the causes of death. In the absence of signs of violence, the investigations are leaning towards an internal or accidental explanation. The Nice prosecutor’s office is expected to provide new details once these examinations are completed.
