ANKARA - An Italian artist who was hitch-hiking from Milan to Tel Aviv in a wedding dress to symbolise "world peace" has been raped and found dead in northwestern Turkey, the Anatolia news agency said Saturday.
The naked and decomposing body of Giuseppina Pasqualino di Marineo was found in a forest near Gebze. She had been missing for several days.
A person, identified only by the initials M.K., has been arrested on suspicion of murder, the agency said, adding that he faced previous theft charges.
It is believed Bacca was strangled after being raped and her body dumped. The local mayor confirmed that the body was naked when discovered on Friday.
Bacca set out on her trip from her hometown Milan on March 8, accompanied by a female friend.
Her body will be repatriated to Italy on Monday.
ba/mat/ach
04/12/2008 11:49 GMT