In 2016, Gisella Cardia purchased a statue of the Virgin Mary from Medjugorje, Bosnia, and claimed it “cried blood” and communicated with her. These allegations drew people to her statue, and Cardia received large sums of money.

In 2023, prosecutors accused her of fraud, suggesting the blood on the statue was pig blood. DNA testing revealed traces of a human woman’s DNA, including Cardia’s,

on the statue, which led to further investigation. Cardia’s attorney requested more tests to determine if the DNA was mixed or single-profile, asserting her client’s faith and denying any fraudulent intentions.

The Diocese of Civita Castellana later declared the events “non-supernatural” after a thorough investigation, confirming the findings. Read more below