Benjamin Braithwaite, a 35‑year‑old from Leeds, was discovered dead in a tent near an abandoned farmhouse between Noto and Canicattini Bagni in Sicily’s Syracuse province on May 28, 2026.
The tent contained a rope, a bag of drugs, and a goat’s head, while a crude drawing appeared on a nearby wall, sparking speculation that the death may have been tied to occult or esoteric rituals, according to local media.
Lt. Col. Sara Pini, leading the investigation, said the drawing was not in the immediate vicinity of the body and that there was no direct evidence linking the death to any ritual, though the area is home to a small off‑grid community of young people, many of whom are university graduates who have chosen to abandon city life.
Mayor Paolo Amenta described the settlement as rustic and said residents reported no signs of violence or conflict.
Police will perform a post‑mortem next Tuesday and are interviewing members of the off‑grid settlement, keeping the case open while they determine the cause of death.