Vatican mulls request to open tomb in missing girl search

The Vatican may open a tomb to see if it holds the remains of a teenager who disappeared in 1983, in the latest twist in one of Italy's darkest mysteries, its spokesman said Monday.

Emanuela Orlandi was the daughter of a member of the Vatican's police, and was last seen leaving a music class aged 15.

Theories have circulated for decades about who took her and where her body lies.

In the latest anonymous tip-off, her family's lawyer was told to look inside the tomb, which lies in a German cemetery within the Vatican walls.

"I can confirm that the letter by Emanuela Orlandi's family has been received... and the requests it contains will be studied," Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said in a statement.

That followed the publication in Italy's Corriere della Sera daily on Monday of the request by lawyer Lauro Sgro.

Sgro received a note last year telling her to "look where the angel is pointing", along with a photograph of the tomb, it said.

The grave in question features a marble ...