Athens police are continuing to investigate the shocking discovery of a dead and frozen baby inside a container placed in a suitcase at a short-term rental apartment in the Kypseli neighborhood.
The investigation has expanded to a second property on Fyli Street, where the couple at the center of the case reportedly lived for about two years before moving to the Kypseli apartment for roughly a month.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the case. A 43-year-old Greek man, his 28-year-old German wife and their 15-year-old daughter are facing charges related to failing to report the discovery of a dead person. The 43-year-old and a 25-year-old Afghan man, who is described as the 15-year-old’s partner, have also been arrested for violations of drug legislation.
Questions surrounding the baby’s death
The baby was found inside a container in one of the suitcases that had been packed in the apartment.
The 28-year-old woman reportedly told police that the baby was hers, that she had lost the child about eight months ago and that she had subsequently kept the body in a freezer.
Authorities have not yet determined the exact circumstances of the baby’s death. Particular attention is being paid to the results of the forensic examination, as findings from the external examination reportedly require further investigation.
Investigators are also examining the possibility that the baby was not the 28-year-old’s child but could instead be connected to her 15-year-old daughter. Forensic and laboratory tests are expected to help establish the facts.
Two other children under scrutiny
Authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding two boys, ages 12 and 9, who were staying in the apartment.
According to information cited in the report, sufficient documentation confirming their identities has not yet been found. Investigators are considering DNA testing to establish their relationship to the other members of the family.
The boys have been placed in protective custody and are expected to undergo medical examinations.
Authorities are also investigating reports that the 15-year-old is pregnant and that the 25-year-old Afghan man is her partner. They are examining the circumstances surrounding the girl’s pregnancy and whether there are other connections among the people who were staying in the apartment.
Cameras and sexual-content items seized
Police searching the apartment found and seized cameras and sexual-content items, along with other objects.
Investigators are expected to examine footage from the cameras for possible evidence concerning what was taking place inside the apartment.
The presence of minors in the property, together with the other findings, has prompted authorities to examine all possible scenarios. So far, however, no other offense has been confirmed beyond those for which arrests have been made.
How the case was uncovered
The investigation began Sunday afternoon after the owner of the short-term rental apartment on Thasou Street in Kypseli contacted police.
The owner reportedly complained that the occupants had not paid their rent and that drugs were being used inside the property.
At the same time, a motorcycle police patrol was passing through the area. The owner stopped the officers and informed them about the situation. Police went to the apartment and found six people inside.
Initially, the 43-year-old man, the 25-year-old man and the 15-year-old girl were taken to the police station after small quantities of drugs were found.
Officers then returned to the apartment to conduct a search. They found the 28-year-old woman and the two younger boys preparing to leave, with their personal belongings packed into suitcases.
The container holding the baby’s remains was found inside one of those suitcases.
Search of second apartment
As part of the investigation, police also searched a property on Fyli Street, where the 43-year-old man and 28-year-old woman reportedly had lived for approximately two years.
They later moved to the Kypseli apartment, where they had reportedly stayed for about a month.
Investigations at both properties are continuing as authorities seek evidence that could clarify the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death and the relationships among the people staying at the apartment.
What the apartment manager said
The manager of the apartment building also described what happened before the discovery.
Speaking to ERTnews, he said he went to the apartment because of an outstanding payment and found more people inside than he had expected. “I went to the apartment to see what was going on, and instead of three people I saw six. I saw an Afghan man, and then some things stopped making sense.”
The manager also alleged that while he was at the property, he witnessed an incident in which the 15-year-old girl was reportedly assaulted inside a room. He said he subsequently saw one of the younger children emerge from another part of the apartment.
Earlier, speaking to Greek television station SKAI, the apartment manager had described the occupants as having made their reservation through Booking. Complaints had been made about noise, and a company employee had previously inspected the property without initially finding anything serious.
On the day of their departure, however, the apartment was found in extremely poor condition. The manager said there was also a suspicion of drug use after some crushed pills were found in the kitchen.
He said the occupants had stayed in the apartment for “slightly less than a month” and were supposedly in Greece on vacation.
Regarding the discovery of the baby’s body, he said: “I learned about it last night. I couldn’t believe it. It was shocking.”
