California man sentenced to life for murdering partner and daughter in Rome

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 20:03 · Archive

An Italian court has convicted American Francis Kaufmann of murdering his Russian partner Anastasia Trofimova and their infant daughter Andromeda. The court sentenced Kaufmann to life in prison, including three years of daytime solitary confinement. Prosecutors said Trofimova was killed first in early June 2025, with CCTV footage showing Kaufmann carrying the child towards Villa Pamphili park and returning about an hour later without her.

The naked bodies of Trofimova, 28, and 11-month-old Andromeda were discovered hours apart on 7 June 2025 in Rome's Villa Pamphili park. Police initially struggled to identify them. A breakthrough came after the case was featured on a popular television program seeking help with missing persons. Kaufmann fled Italy after the killings and was arrested on the Greek island of Skiathos before being extradited back to Italy.

The defence argued there was no hard evidence proving Kaufmann carried out the killings. Defence lawyer Paolo Foti told the court: 'This is a trial based on circumstantial evidence, and circumstantial evidence is not proof.' However, the court, comprising two professional judges and six lay judges, found him guilty. Trofimova, from Siberia, had met Kaufmann in Malta during a vacation in 2023. Their daughter was born in June 2024 and the family later moved to Rome. Kaufmann, who also went by the name Rexal Ford, presented himself as a film director or producer.

How it is being reported

• American man gets life sentence in Rome for murder of partner and baby daughterTrofimova came from Siberia and met Kaufmann in Malta during a vacation in 2023Independent World · 5 Nov, 19:44
• Calif. man receives life sentence for murder of Russian partner, infant daughter in RomeAn Italian court on Thursday found Francis Kaufmann guilty of murdering his partner and their infant daughter, whose bodies were discovered in a Rome park last year.New York Post · 5 Nov, 18:23

In this story: Francis Kaufmann · Anastasia Trofimova · Andromeda · Rome · Villa Pamphili · Skiathos

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