Graziano Mesina is an Italian bandit. He was 78 years old in July 2020, and has escaped the authorities at least ten times. He was called the "king of the kidnappers" by The New York Times in 1992. There have been books, songs, and at least one film about him.
Biography
Mesina's father was a shepherd in the Barbagia region of Sardinia. He was first arrested at 14 years old for having a stolen rifle, and released with a warning. Four years later, Mesina was again arrested. He was released that same year, but shortly arrested and sent back to prison for attempted murder. He escaped from a prison train in 1962, but was re-captured. That same year he escaped again, this time from a prison hospital. Mesina shot the brother of a man who he thought killed his brother, and was sent to prison for 24 years. Mesina escaped from prison in 1966 with Miguel Atienza by climbing over a wall and began a kidnapping spree. He was arrested on March 26, 1968, after a 10 millionlira reward was offered. That same year, The New York Times described him as "Italy's most-wanted bandit". After he was arrested a crowd of schoolgirls gathered at the police station with cards saying "I love you" on them. The Tough and the Mighty is based on his life. In 1970, he watched Cagliari Calcio play football while dressed as a woman. In August 1976, Mesina broke out of Lecce prison with a group of Italian mafia. On March 16, 1977 he was re-captured. He again escaped in 1985, after leaving on a visit to his mother. In 1992, Mesina helped secure the release of, who had been kidnapped. The next year he was arrested again. On 24 November 2004, then-President of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi pardoned Mesina, believing he "would turn over a new leaf". That year he had been in prison for a total of forty years. Mesina returned to Sardinia and opened a tourism company. In 2013, he was again arrested, allegedly for setting up a drug network. The Daily Telegraph reported that he "offered no resistance". Three years later, his presidential pardon was revoked. Mesina was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2018 and as of July 2020 was a fugitive from the police.
