Roberta Pitzalis died of botulinum poisoning and, as a contributing factor, hemorrhagic pneumonia resulting from intubation for assisted ventilation. This is the outcome of the autopsy, ordered by the Cagliari Prosecutor's Office, performed today on the body of the 38-year-old woman from Guasila by coroner Matteo Nioi, appointed by Public Prosecutor Giangiacomo Pilia. Doctor Alberto Chighine, appointed as a consultant by the woman's family, assisted by lawyer Francesco Marongiu, also participated in the examination. The sole suspect, Argentine Cristian Gustavo Vincenti, owner of the kiosk where the contaminated food was allegedly served, is being represented by lawyer Maurizio Mereu; no consultant has been appointed.

The medical assessment is not complete: the results of all diagnostic, chemical, and histological tests will be available within ninety days and will clearly determine the 38-year-old's cause of death, as well as the reason for her deterioration. Pitzalis was among eight people hospitalized after ingesting—according to investigators—food laced with guacamole during the "Fiesta Latina" in Monserrato on July 22nd.

Four were discharged almost immediately, an 11-year-old boy is still hospitalized in serious condition at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, and the condition of a 14-year-old girl remains worrying, though stable.

The woman was initially hospitalized at Brotzu Hospital: she seemed to have improved, so much so that she was transferred to Businco Hospital. Then her clinical condition worsened, resulting in the 38-year-old's death. Therefore, further autopsy results will also determine when the deterioration occurred and how much of a factor it contributed to her death. Furthermore, the prosecutor has also requested a thorough evaluation to determine whether there may have been any negligence on the part of healthcare workers.

The investigation coordinated by Prosecutor Pilia led to the seizure by the NAS Carabinieri of one kilogram of avocado pulp, originating from Peru and used to make the salsa used at the Monserrato kiosk. The Prosecutor's Office assigned highly experienced food technologist Fabrizio Anniballi, from the Department of Food Safety, Nutrition, and Public Health of the Italian National Institute of Health, to examine the samples of tacos and guacamole seized by the NAS and local health authority inspectors in Tortolì, when the alarm was raised following the first emergency hospitalizations related to the evening of July 22nd.

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