Barman 'beaten' to death before being dumped in a river after attending a shamanic ceremony in Venice
A barman has allegedly been beaten to death before being dumped in a river after attending a shamanic ceremony in Venice.
Alex Marangon, 26, was one of about 20 people taking part in a two-day shamanic ayahuasca ceremony at the desecrated Abbey of Santa Bona in Vidor, in the Italian province of Treviso, on June 29.
As part of the 'healing ritual', he reportedly drunk tea made from the South American plant, which can cause powerful hallucinations and is banned in many countries, including Italy.
The ceremony was organised by Italian 'music medics' Andrea Gorgi Zuin and Tatiana Marchetto and involved an Amazonian 'healer' as well as a 'curandero' musician from Colombia called Jhonni Benavides, according to local media.
Marangon, who came from a small town near Venice, was last seen around 3am on June 30 by two other attendees, who reportedly told the police that they saw him running barefoot into the gardens next to the abbey.
Alex Marangon (pictured), 26, was one of about 20 people taking part in a two-day shamanic ayahuasca ceremony at the desecrated Abbey of Santa Bona in Vidor, in the Italian province of Treviso, on June 29
As part of the 'healing ritual', he reportedly drunk tea made from the South American plant, which can cause powerful hallucinations and is banned in many countries, including Italy
They reported him missing around 6am and police found his phone, car and documents at the abbey, but no trace of him.
His body was finally spotted stranded on an islet in the Piave river, 2.5 miles downstream from the abbey, in Ciano del Montello, also in Treviso, on July 3.
The autopsy revealed that he had no water in his lungs and a 'fatal blow on the left side of the head', which he could not inflicted on himself and indicates that someone else was involved in his death, according to local media.
He also had several broken ribs and other wounds to the body.
The forensic pathologist said: 'The young man was severely beaten - with several blows, some even to the head, with a blunt object.' This reportedly caused severe internal bleeding.
The results of the toxicological test have not yet been announced, but investigators believe that they could provide a breakthrough in the case.
Marangon, who had asthma, was reportedly injected with the Amazonian frog venom kambo - which can also cause hallucinations - as part of another shamanic healing practice allegedly used to alleviate discomfort.
The examination of Marangon's body 'renders a disturbing picture, that of a powerful, elusive attack during a struggle', lawyer Nicodemo Gentile, who assists the Marangon family, said.
Gentile also said that the autopsy suggests that Marangon was assaulted by more than one person.
The beating lasted about a minute and Marangon died just 20 seconds after the blow to his head, according to outlet Corriere della Serra.
Friends of the 26-year-old have also revealed that he was anxious about going through with the shamanic ritual again on the night he went missing after already experiencing it during the night before
His family also appealed to the other attendees at the ceremony, as 'more people know what happened'.
Marangon's devastated mother Sabrina Brosser said in an appeal for witnesses: 'Enough with the code of honour. Tell us how our son died. You have to help us.'
Among those cooperating with police are reportedly organisers Zuin and Marchetto, who specialise in music ceremonies using frequencies of 432hz.
Marangon's devastated mother Sabrina had told local media prior to her son's body being found: 'He was a brilliant young man, a lover of life. He would never have left like this.
'My son would not have disappeared into thin air, he was full of dreams and desires. And above all, he wouldn't have left without his mobile phone.'
Friends of the 26-year-old have also revealed that he was anxious about going through with the shamanic ritual again on the night he went missing after already experiencing it during the night before.
Local media also reported claims that Marangon could have been involved with satanic cults in the past, which is currently being investigated by the local police.
