Niccolo Mainoni

Once she was at the bridge, Gallup figured that there were only four ways Calvi could have died.

Once she was at the bridge, Gallup figured that there were only four ways Calvi could have died.

Calvi died hanging from temporary construction scaffolding that was set up directly under the bridge's first arch, closest to the riverbank.

Calvi died hanging from temporary construction scaffolding that was set up directly under the bridge's first arch, closest to the riverbank.

Gallup gave me a very detailed walkthrough. But basically, if Calvi had died by suicide, he had two options. If he started on top of the bridge, he could have climbed over the edge, made his way down a rickety ladder, then jumped onto the scaffolding under the archway. Or he could have started under the bridge by swimming across the river and climbing up out of the water onto the scaffolding.

Gallup gave me a very detailed walkthrough. But basically, if Calvi had died by suicide, he had two options. If he started on top of the bridge, he could have climbed over the edge, made his way down a rickety ladder, then jumped onto the scaffolding under the archway. Or he could have started under the bridge by swimming across the river and climbing up out of the water onto the scaffolding.

Two options for suicide. Now, if Calvi had been murdered, the routes would actually be very similar.

Two options for suicide. Now, if Calvi had been murdered, the routes would actually be very similar.

Someone would either have to carry Calvi down the same riggity ladder and balance him on the temporary scaffolding, or the killers would have brought Calvi to the scaffolding via the water. This probably meant by boat. They would have lifted Calvi off the boat and hung him on the scaffolding. So all in all, four ways Calvi could have died.

Someone would either have to carry Calvi down the same riggity ladder and balance him on the temporary scaffolding, or the killers would have brought Calvi to the scaffolding via the water. This probably meant by boat. They would have lifted Calvi off the boat and hung him on the scaffolding. So all in all, four ways Calvi could have died.

Two ways from the top of the bridge, two ways from the water. Put that way, it almost seems simple.

Two ways from the top of the bridge, two ways from the water. Put that way, it almost seems simple.

It was quickly clear to Gallup that Calvi didn't swim to the bridge himself because his suit didn't have evidence of being soaked. So that's one theory down, three to go. What about the idea that a distraught Calvi climbed down the ladder himself onto the scaffolding? For this, Gallup had a man about Calvi's size retrace his steps.

It was quickly clear to Gallup that Calvi didn't swim to the bridge himself because his suit didn't have evidence of being soaked. So that's one theory down, three to go. What about the idea that a distraught Calvi climbed down the ladder himself onto the scaffolding? For this, Gallup had a man about Calvi's size retrace his steps.

Calvi had poor eyesight and vertigo. So as Gallup watched her husband struggle to climb down the bridge, she found it hard to imagine Calvi doing the same. To further test this route, Gallup actually built a replica scaffolding and had volunteers wear the same clothes, the same shoes, even put the same heavy bricks in their pockets. The results continued to get weirder.

Calvi had poor eyesight and vertigo. So as Gallup watched her husband struggle to climb down the bridge, she found it hard to imagine Calvi doing the same. To further test this route, Gallup actually built a replica scaffolding and had volunteers wear the same clothes, the same shoes, even put the same heavy bricks in their pockets. The results continued to get weirder.

For example, Gallup's actors got bruises and scratches, none of which seemed to match Calvi's. But what really stood out to her was the footwear.

For example, Gallup's actors got bruises and scratches, none of which seemed to match Calvi's. But what really stood out to her was the footwear.

In the replica scaffolding she built, Gallup had been careful to match the exact type of metal and the same type of paint as the scaffolding where Calvi had been found. Now she had her volunteers walk up and down the scaffolding with the same shoe model that Calvi wore. And she noticed small flecks of paint lodged in the soles.

In the replica scaffolding she built, Gallup had been careful to match the exact type of metal and the same type of paint as the scaffolding where Calvi had been found. Now she had her volunteers walk up and down the scaffolding with the same shoe model that Calvi wore. And she noticed small flecks of paint lodged in the soles.