Roberto Succo was born on April 3, 1962, in Mestre, a town near Venice, Italy. He grew up in a family that included his parents, Maria and Nazario Succo. His father was a police officer. Not much is publicly known about his early childhood. However, he was described as a troubled young man as he grew older.

Succo attended school and was considered intelligent. He showed interest in various subjects and was known to have a fascination with cars. He had difficulty in his relationships with his parents, particularly when it came to their rules and supervision. As a teenager, he began to show signs of rebellious behavior.

By the age of 19, Succo's life changed dramatically. In April 1981, he murdered both of his parents. He stabbed his mother 32 times, and then killed his father after a fight over the family car. After the murders, he tried to hide their bodies. This act marked the beginning of his troubled life. He was quickly caught by the police and declared mentally ill.

Succo was sent to a psychiatric prison where he was supposed to receive treatment. During his time there, he studied geology at the University of Parma. He spent five years in the psychiatric facility. In 1986, while on a temporary release, he escaped and fled to France.

On April 3, 1981, Roberto Succo killed his mother, Maria, by stabbing her 32 times. He also killed his father, Nazario, who was a police officer. After the murders, he hid their bodies in the bathtub of their home in Mestre, Italy, covering them with water and lime to delay their discovery. Succo then took his father's service pistol and fled the scene.

Just two days later, he was arrested at a pizzeria in San Pietro al Natisone, near the border with Yugoslavia. The investigation quickly linked him to the murders of his parents. After his arrest, he was deemed mentally ill and sentenced to ten years in a psychiatric prison in Reggio Emilia. During his time there, he was a model prisoner and studied geology.

On May 15, 1986, Succo escaped from the psychiatric hospital while on a day release. He traveled to France using fake documents and changed his name to "Kurt." In France, Succo committed multiple crimes including burglary, rape, and murder. He killed two women and murdered a physician, as well as two police officers. He also kidnapped and terrorized people across several European countries, becoming a fugitive known as Public Enemy Number One in France, Italy, and Switzerland.

On April 6, 1988, he was recognized by a student in Aix-les-Bains, which led him to return to Italy. He was caught in Mestre on February 28, 1988. On March 1, during an escape attempt from Treviso prison, he fell from the roof.

Succo died by suicide in his cell at the San Pius X prison in Vicenza on May 23, 1988. He suffocated himself with a plastic bag.