Domenico Raccuglia was second in line in the Sicilian Repubblica hierarchy when he was arrested by Carabinieri in 1999. Charged with multiple crimes he was involved in the kidnapping of an informant's son. The youth was killed following an extensive captivity. Beginning in 1996 Raccuglia was on Italy's most wanted list. Condsidered a possible successor to Mafia boss Giovanni Brusca, Domenico was joined by Matteo Messina Denaro and Salvatore Lo Piccolo on a list of possible successor bosses. Raccuglia was sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia for Girolama La Barbera's murder. A pentito, Barbera was a main witness during the trial of Giovanni Falcone.