Authorities have arrested the child’s father, while the mother had already been taken into custody earlier. Both are expected to appear before the Prosecutor in Chania, a city in western Crete, after being charged with attempted murder.
The child was first taken to the Chania General Hospital with serious injuries. Doctors identified, among other conditions, a brain hematoma, an older fracture, and extensive bruising across her body.
Due to the severity of her condition, she was urgently transferred to the University Hospital of Heraklion (ΠΑΓΝΗ), which is the main tertiary hospital in Crete and one of the island’s key intensive care centers.
At the same time, authorities are also examining the deaths of two other children from the same family, in order to determine their exact causes.
The family’s three other minor children were found living in poor conditions and were taken to Chania General Hospital, where they remain under state protection following a prosecutor’s order.
Investigators are exploring all possible scenarios regarding the cause of the 3-year-old’s severe injuries, including abuse. Preliminary findings so far indicate that the children were raised in an environment of neglect.
