Al Bano, an Italian singer who rose to fame in Europe in the 1980s as part of a duet with his ex wife Romina Power, has called for his long-time missing daughter to be recognized dead, news reports said Monday.
The Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, a southern Italian newspaper, carried an announcement from a court in Brindisi informing that Al Bano, whose real name is Albano Carrisi, had asked judges to certify
his daughter's presumed death.
Under Italian law, a court can declare someone presumed dead if nothing is heard from him or her for at least 10 years. Ylenia Carrisi was last seen in New Orleans, United States, on January 6,
1994. She was 23 at the time.
"I wished I never had to do this, and sure enough, I waited 10 more years than were necessary. They convinced me, for technical reasons, to file a request," Al Bano told the ANSA news agency.
"Mind you, we are talking about a presumed death. Which means that after all, there is still a glimmer of hope," he added.
Following procedures, judges said they would wait six months for anyone to come forward with information about Carrisi before going ahead with the procedure.
Over the years, there have been several alleged sightings, but none have ever been proved.