The brutal murders of two women in western Thessaloniki have prompted authorities to reopen at least 10 unsolved cases involving missing and murdered women, as investigators examine whether the crimes are linked to a wider pattern.
The bodies of a 43-year-old and a 47-year-old woman were found on the rooftop of an older apartment building in the Menemeni district. Both victims died by strangulation, according to initial findings.
Police arrested two men in connection with the case — a 52-year-old property owner and a 50-year-old friend — who have since been ordered held in pre-trial detention. However, items discovered in the building’s basement have raised concerns that the case could extend far beyond the two confirmed killings.
Investigators found dozens of women’s clothing items that could not be explained by the suspects, prompting authorities to reexamine at least 10 cold cases of female disappearances and homicides in western Thessaloniki.
In at least three of those cases, strangulation was identified as the cause of death. Forensic findings, including fractures of the hyoid bone — often associated with asphyxiation — mirror injuries documented in the 2022 case of a 27-year-old woman who had been reported missing before her body was found.
Police are now investigating whether the two suspects may be connected to the reopened cases or whether the evidence points to the possible involvement of another unidentified serial offender.
Greece has faced high-profile serial murder cases in the past, and the latest developments have reignited public concern in Menemeni, where residents are closely following the investigation.
Authorities continue to analyze forensic evidence and review older case files to determine whether the recent murders represent isolated crimes or the tip of a much larger and long-hidden pattern of violence.
