Μake us preferred on Google New details have emerged in the investigation into the death of a nine-month-old boy whose body was found inside a suitcase in a freezer at a short-term rental apartment in Kypseli, central Athens.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death, the handling of his body and the movements of the family before they moved to the Kypseli apartment.
The Baby’s Mother
The 38-year-old German woman, in whose suitcase the dead infant was found, shared her account of what happened in the “house of horror” in Kypseli through her lawyer, Christos Psaras, who described the case as “a tragic incident.”
Speaking to members of the press, Psaras said he is also waiting to see the case file concerning his client. “She says the child was hers,” he stated, confirming that his client is German.
Asked whether she has accepted the charges against her, the lawyer for the 38-year-old, who is pregnant, said he could not comment further. He also declined to say whether she knew what the suitcase contained or how she could not have noticed the infant’s body, which had been kept in the freezer for some time.
According to information made public so far, the coroner has attributed the infant’s death to a criminal act. Eighteen knife wounds were found on the body, three inflicted before death and fifteen after.
The exact time of death has not been determined, since the child’s body had been placed in a freezer, which is complicating efforts to pinpoint when death occurred. Authorities are now trying to establish when the infant died, how long the body remained in the freezer, and when and why it was moved between apartments.
15-year-old taken to gynecological clinic
The pregnant 15-year-old girl, is also at the center of the investigation after police found pills, cameras and other items in the apartment.
She was taken to a gynecological clinic for examinations of both her and the fetus.
During the examinations, doctors determined that the 15-year-old was addicted to drugs.
She had been found in the apartment with two other minors and a 26-year-old man who claims to be her partner.
Authorities have also learned that two of the family’s three minor children reportedly have sexually transmitted infections. The circumstances surrounding those findings are also being investigated.
Neighbors describe frequent visitors and arguments
Residents of the building said there had been considerable activity around the apartment.
According to their accounts, unfamiliar people would ring the building’s doorbell before going up to the fourth floor, while visitors appeared to come and go frequently.
What neighbors reportedly remember most clearly were loud voices and arguments coming from the apartment.
Some residents also said they had noticed behavior that led them to suspect drug use.
Fire preceded the move to Kypseli
The family left the apartment on Fyli street about a month and a half ago.
According to information obtained by Ta Nea, they moved after a fire broke out inside the apartment under circumstances that remain unclear. They subsequently moved to the Kypseli apartment where the investigation into the infant’s death was later uncovered.
The rent for the Fyli Street apartment was paid regularly while the family lived there.
‘We never saw a baby’
Residents who had a daily view of the building said they never saw an infant with the family.
They do not remember seeing a baby entering or leaving the apartment with them, nor do they recall ever hearing a baby crying.
The accounts are now being examined as investigators try to establish whether and how the suitcase containing the infant’s body was moved between apartments.
The previous apartment on Fyli Street is now another element of the investigation, as authorities attempt to reconstruct the family’s movements and the events leading up to the discovery in Kypseli.
Infant had 18 knife wounds
The nine-month-old boy’s body was found with 18 knife wounds. Three were inflicted before his death and 15 after his death.
The exact time of death has not yet been established because the body had been kept in a freezer, making it difficult for investigators to determine when the infant died.
Authorities are seeking to establish when the child died, how long his body remained frozen, and when and why it was moved from one apartment to another.
The investigation is also examining who may have known about the infant’s death and what happened at the family’s previous home before the move to Kypseli.
Suspects due before investigator Wednesday
The people arrested in connection with the case are expected to appear before an investigating magistrate on Wednesday, September 2.
Investigators are continuing to seek answers to several key questions, including when exactly the infant died, who caused the wounds, who knew about his death, how long his body remained hidden in freezers and how many times it was moved between apartments.
