Ernesto Picchioni was born in 1900 in Ascrea, a small town located in the province of Rieti, Italy. Little is known about his childhood, but he grew up in a rural environment. In 1944, he moved to another village called Nerola, which is about 40 kilometers away from Rome. He lived in a run-down house with his wife, Angela Lucarelli, and their four children.

The family struggled financially. When asked by the local Carabinieri how he made a living, Ernesto stated that he "sells snails." His life in Nerola was marked by tension. In 1946, he served four months in prison for assaulting a landowner. This incident showed a violent side to his character early on.

While living in Nerola, police discovered disturbing sights near his home, including animal corpses and remains of dismantled bicycles. Despite these findings, authorities did not link him to any deaths at that time, owing to the lack of evidence.

After his arrest, Ernesto Picchioni was placed in a maximum-security prison. He ultimately faced serious charges and was sentenced to two life sentences plus an additional 26 years in prison. His daughters, Carolina and Gabriella, were later adopted by a wealthy entrepreneur after his conviction.

Ernesto Picchioni, known as the "Monster of Nerola," committed his crimes between 1944 and 1947. His victims included men and women, and he was accused of killing between four and sixteen individuals. Most of his murders took place in Nerola, Italy, where he lived with his family.

In September 1947, Picchioni was arrested after his wife notified the police about his actions. During the investigation, it was revealed that he had confessed to two murders at the trial, but many others were also attributed to him based on circumstantial evidence. The police uncovered additional grisly details, including the discovery of dog bodies and dismantled bicycles near his residence.

On March 12, 1949, he was sentenced to two life sentences and an additional 26 years in prison. After his imprisonment, he attempted to attack Pope John XXIII, which led to his transfer to a more secure prison on Elba Island.

Picchioni died in prison in September 1967 due to cardiac arrest at the age of 67. Throughout his time in custody, he received no visits from family members and made threatening remarks about them. Following his arrest, two of his daughters were adopted and received a significant inheritance.