He organized orgies, planned blackmail of powerful people, was involved in drug mafias and was killed by the 'Avenging Angel': the life of 'Caligula'

Four bullets and two bloody bodies marked the mysterious case of an unsolved crime that aroused the curiosity of the people of Lima when they were young people from wealthy families who apparently had no enemies seeking to disappear them. The sum of the evidence allowed us to recognize that the members of the so-called Caligula clan were immersed in a life of excesses and criminal acts typical of their desire to dominate the illicit markets hidden in the corners of the capital.

The role of mentor was given to Fernando de Romagna Azalde, better known as' Caligula ', who together with his friends immersed himself in drug trafficking and robberies millionaires. He and his accomplices mocked justice by paying bribes to members of the Peruvian National Police (PNP), who freed them from guilt without conducting a concise investigation. This is how they went unnoticed, until 1990, when he was intervened for the crime of vehicle theft. At that time, there was speculation of his links with “men of power”, who would be responsible for being his guardians before the justice system.

By October of that same year, PNP troops arrived at the family home in Romagna, located in the district of Miraflores, following the clues of the formation of a mafia that was responsible for trafficking cars. Although they were able to gather data that could involve them, the case was soon stopped.

WITHOUT A TRACE OF THE MURDERERS

It was February 1992 and the brother of 'Caligula' - the Roman emperor perverted by madness - told the policemen that the car they were in, with license plate LQ-3023, was intercepted by some subjects who years later would become the most wanted murderers in our country. After issuing the alert, a search was launched to find his whereabouts. On the night of the same day, it was confirmed that the body of Romagna and his best friend, Julio Domínguez Marzano, were gunned down and abandoned. The first was at kilometer 17 of the Huarochirí-Cieneguilla highway, with three shots to the head; and his companion was abandoned in Monterrico with a bullet in the left eye.

The review of the corpses recorded that there were no missing belongings, since they still kept their wallet with $400 and a watch of great value. This is how the first acknowledgements led to the fact that it was a reckoning.

THE SECRET OF THE CALIGULA CLAN

A month after the murder of 'Caligula', a report published by El Comercio indicated that the deaths of these young people would be related to a mafia that organized orgies at exclusive parties, planned blackmail and recorded pornographic videos that were later used to extort money, mostly from prestigious women and men.

A curious fact to analyze was that the name of Monica Santa Maria, the dalina of “Nubeluz”, who was a victim of this clan when she had a relationship with Arturo Bayly, gained notoriety. They had in their possession some tapes that were going to damage their public image, especially because of the children's environment in which they worked.

Little by little the names of this clan began to spread. Luis Mannarelli Rachitoff was involved, who upon being recognized tried to escape from Iquitos to Brazil with a forged passport. Horacio Puccio Bayona, the last to see 'Caligula' alive, was captured with drugs and a 38-caliber Smith Wesson revolver, which was speculated to be the murder weapon against his friend.

Alejandro González Ramírez, or simply 'Jano', the sponsor of foreign trips for this group, who was credited with stealing some notebooks with valuable information and videos that recorded the orgies. The list culminates with Fernando de Romagna Azalde and Julio Domínguez Barsallo, 'Chato'.

THEORIES TO FIND THE GUILTY

There was speculation that the sex video business did not appeal to them at all, so they decided to start a new one, that of drug trafficking. This version indicates that the reckoning was because they kept merchandise and money from earnings.

Although this may have been a credible scenario, thanks to an agent from the Homicide Division it became known that 'Caligula' was not skilled with sales and had never sold anything, not even a bicycle.

THE RISE OF THE 'AVENGING ANGEL'

By March 1992, the capture of Luis Mannarelli Rachitoff began the enigmatic origin of the identity of the 'Avenging Angel', nickname received by the murderer of young people on the road. When he was deprived of his liberty, a relative appeared before the press to give an alert: “If they take him to prison they will try to kill him for something big that is impossible for him to reveal, because his life would be in danger.”

Mannarelli did have a friendship that linked him to Romagna and Domínguez, and upon learning about the murders, for protection, he decided to leave the capital, since they had tried to kill him twice.

By November 1993, 'Jano' was captured in Miraflores, charged with murder. His criminal profile led to him being singled out as the mysterious criminal of 1992. That same month, Puccio Bayona blamed his partner for blackmail as the perpetrator of the crime, who would have obeyed the order of a former foreign diplomat linked to drug trafficking.

PRISON AND DEATH IN THE CLAN

After the assassination of 'Caligula' and 'Chato', the other members of the clan did not run lucky. Mannarelli Rachitoff was prosecuted and sentenced to 8 years in prison for theft of jewels. Today he is purging prison for drug trafficking in La Capilla prison in Puno. Although he is still in the criminal world: in 2020 it was known that he extorted businessmen from prison.

Carlos Edmundo Gonzales Ciccia, who claimed to be close to 'Caligula', was also prosecuted for theft of jewels as he belonged to the gang Los Gentleman. In 2013, known as 'Uncle Charlie II' he was arrested when he was carrying drugs in a briefcase.

Puccio Bayona was free of guilt, but died in 1990 when a drug capsule exploded in his stomach as he tried to leave the country.

Finally, González Ramírez, 'Jano', the main suspect, was acquitted for lack of evidence in 1995. No more was known until June 2021, when he was found stabbed at his beach house in Los Pulpos, located in Lurín.

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