Notorious Italian Mafia Boss Dies While In Prison

Photo: Handout / Getty Images News / Getty Images

A prominent Mafia kingpin, who had managed to evade law enforcement for decades before being apprehended earlier this year, has passed away.

Matteo Messina Denaro died Monday at a hospital in L'Aquila, Italy, where he was incarcerated at a maximum-security prison.  

His lawyer says the cause of death was colon cancer.

The 61-year-old Denaro was an infamous mobster and convicted murderer who had avoided capture for 30 years before he was found and arrested in January.


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