Giovanni Brusca was born on February 20, 1957, in San Giuseppe Jato, Sicily, into a Mafia family with deep roots in organized crime. His grandfather and great-grandfather were mafiosi, and his father, Bernardo Brusca, was a feared Mafia boss closely allied with the powerful Corleonesi clan, led by Salvatore Riina and Bernardo Provenzano. When his father was imprisoned in 1985, Giovanni inherited control over the San Giuseppe Jato territory, further embedding himself in the Mafia's violent operations. Brusca grew up steeped in criminal traditions, quickly gaining a reputation as both a ruthless killer and an effective leader. His criminal record was marked by acts of violence, intimidation, and unwavering loyalty to the Cosa Nostra.

In Mafia circles, Brusca was notorious for his brutal methods, earning him nicknames like “the Pig” and “the people-slayer.” He operated as both a hitman and an enforcer, carrying out orders for the Corleonesi and eventually playing a key role in the Mafia’s bloody war against the Italian state. Despite his violent nature, some inside the Mafia saw him as a “wild stallion” but also a capable strategist, trusted with major operations at the highest levels.

Giovanni Brusca’s criminal legacy is inseparable from the darkest years of Mafia violence in Italy. He is most infamous for his role in the May 23, 1992, Capaci bombing that killed anti-Mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone, Falcone’s wife Francesca Morvillo, and three police bodyguards. Brusca personally detonated half a ton of explosives hidden under the A29 motorway, an act that shocked the nation and triggered a wave of public outrage. This murder, ordered by the Corleonesi bosses, was intended as revenge for Falcone’s relentless campaign against the Mafia and signaled a declaration of war against the state.

Following the Falcone assassination, Brusca participated in a campaign of terror that included the murders of fellow mafioso Vincenzo Milazzo and influential businessman Ignazio Salvo. He also played a part in the 1993 mainland bombing attacks in Florence, Milan, and Rome, which targeted cultural sites and killed 10 civilians while injuring dozens. These attacks aimed to destabilize Italy and intimidate authorities into easing their crackdown on organized crime.

Brusca’s most shocking crime, however, was the kidnapping and murder of 11-year-old Giuseppe Di Matteo. In November 1993, the boy was abducted as revenge against his father, Santino Di Matteo, who had turned state witness. Giuseppe was held captive for 779 days, tortured, and finally strangled on January 11, 1996; his body was dissolved in acid. This act of cruelty stunned even hardened mafiosi and remains one of the most horrific episodes in Italian Mafia history.

Brusca was arrested on May 20, 1996, near Agrigento, after years on the run. After his capture, he chose to become a pentito (state informant), revealing the inner workings of Cosa Nostra and collaborating with investigators. His cooperation resulted in reduced sentences for multiple crimes: 26 years for the Capaci bombing, 30 years for the murder of Giuseppe Di Matteo, and life for the killing of Salvatore Caravà. Despite initial skepticism over his claims, Brusca’s testimony was instrumental in numerous prosecutions. In 2021, after serving 25 years and benefiting from legal provisions for informants, Brusca was released on parole—a decision that provoked public and political outrage. He was fully discharged from parole in June 2025. Today, he remains one of the most notorious Mafia figures to have walked free after such devastating crimes.