Police in Sicily are investigating the death of Benjamin John Braithwaite, a 35-year-old British man found in a rural commune between the towns of Noto and Canicattini Bagni in the Syracuse province. According to local reports, Braithwaite was discovered around 3 a.m. on September 13 by residents who had been eating and playing music at a gathering. They said he left the event before being found. Authorities have ruled out suicide after an autopsy, as reported by the Italian newspaper La Sicilia. Police are now looking into the possibility that Braithwaite died during an erotic game that went wrong. Another Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, reported that Braithwaite was found naked near a farmhouse where members of a secluded community had been living. The community, which lives in isolated farmhouses, has drawn some public attention in recent years. Local media mentioned that investigators found nearby objects including "a goat's head, several bottles of psychotropic drugs, and other items suggesting rituals." However, authorities have stated that there is no evidence linking these items to esoteric or occult rituals. The items were found in the area, but no direct connection to Braithwaite’s death has been confirmed. Paolo Amenta, the mayor of Canicattini Bagni and president of ANCI Sicilia, described the people living in the communal farmhouses as graduates who chose to live in isolation. "The young people who decided to live in those areas are also graduates who chose to leave everything behind," Amenta said. "We hope the investigations can clarify what happened. These are people I've met in the evenings, especially during events organized in the village. They've always been kind. They live in reorganized villages surrounded by nature." The British Foreign Office has confirmed it is supporting the family of the deceased and is in contact with local authorities to assist with the ongoing investigation.