Crete is in deep mourning as family and friends bid farewell to 43-year-old Eleftheria Giakoumaki, who was murdered by her former partner. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Heraklion, while authorities continue their investigation, uncovering new details about the crime and the perpetrator’s attempts to cover his tracks.
Her funerawas held in the village of Dafnes, near Heraklion, at the Church of Saint George at 1:00 p.m., with her body lying in state from noon so that loved ones could say their final goodbye.
The local community remains shaken, with residents expressing concern and even fears of a potential vendetta—a reference to long-standing traditions of retaliatory violence in parts of Crete—as emotions continue to run high.
How the Murder Unfolded
According to Hellenic Police the murder took place on the morning of Sunday, April 19, between 11:00 and 11:10 a.m., near the chapel of Saint Panteleimon in Dafnes.
The 40-year-old suspect is believed to have approached the victim’s white car, stood in front of it, and shot her in the head at close range with a 9mm pistol while she was seated in the driver’s seat. He then moved her body to the back seats of the vehicle.
Authorities believe the suspect later took his own life using a sawn-off shotgun when he realized police were closing in. The crime appears to have been premeditated, as he had arranged the meeting with the victim.
“I Knew from the Start” – A Mother’s Grief
The victim’s mother spoke emotionally, saying she feared the worst from the very beginning. “Deep down, I knew she had been killed,” she said, describing the anguish of the days leading up to the discovery.
According to her, Eleftheria’s children have not yet fully grasped the magnitude of their loss. Her final communication with her family included a touching note to her young daughter, along with two automated messages.
Eleftheria Giakoumaki, a mother of three, had been living what relatives describe as a daily nightmare during her relationship with the man who would later kill her. He was intensely jealous, frequently checked her phone, and had repeated outbursts.
The couple had been together for about a year before separating two months ago. Their relationship was marked by tension, pathological jealousy, and constant control.
The perpetrator had even installed a GPS tracker in her car to monitor her movements, obsessively attempting to reconnect with her after the breakup.
Warning signs had been visible throughout the relationship. “I never trusted him—my father said the same. He was nervous, prone to sudden outbursts,” her brother recalled.
Despite everything, Eleftheria kept much of her suffering to herself. According to testimonies, her former partner had gone as far as taking control of another woman’s phone in the past, indicating a pattern of controlling behavior.
Although he had entered a new relationship, he remained a looming presence in Eleftheria’s life. In hindsight, one of her social media posts now appears chillingly prophetic: “They ask you ‘why did you change?’ Because you stopped being the victim that suited them.”
Social Media Posts and Warning Signs
Eleftheria was active on social media. Last March, she shared a song dedicated to women who had suffered abuse.
Reports suggest that financial difficulties may have further strained the mental state of the 40-year-old suspect, who had previously shown signs of self-destructive behavior.
Handwritten notes left behind are expected to shed light on his motives and final thoughts. Meanwhile, messages from Eleftheria’s friends flooding social media paint a picture of grief and disbelief.
“Everyone who knew you will remember you smiling in your profile picture. It’s ironic—it was taken exactly a year before the day you were taken from your children. May you rest in the light,” one friend wrote.
Her name has now been added to the growing list of femicides in Greece, highlighting the harsh reality of gender-based violence.
The Suspect’s Movements After the Crime
Approximately 50 minutes after the murder, the suspect was captured on surveillance cameras walking along the Heraklion–Moires provincial road. In footage aired by MEGA TV, he is seen holding his phone as he heads toward a café, where he asked for help calling a taxi.
Shortly afterward, he took a taxi back to his home. He then retrieved his own car and returned to the crime scene in an apparent attempt to conceal evidence. He drove the victim’s vehicle to a field near Agia Varvara, where he abandoned it.
“Rest in the Light” – Grief and Anger Online
The local community in Crete remains deeply shaken by the brutal killing. Friends and acquaintances continue to mourn Eleftheria through social media posts filled with sorrow and anger.
“Everyone who knew you will remember you smiling in your profile picture. Ironically, it was taken exactly one year before the day you were taken from your children. Rest in the light,” another friend wrote, noting the haunting timing of the photo.
Another message reads: “Ritsa is dead. Because someone never learned to accept ‘no’… Violence escalates… everything is violence.” The same post urges women experiencing abuse to seek help, reminding them of available support hotlines.
As the investigation continues, the case stands as yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to address domestic violence and protect vulnerable individuals before tragedy strikes.
