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A police officer was found dead inside a locked service vehicle in the Athens suburb of Agios Dimitrios late Monday, with authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

The officer, whose age is given as 34 and 37 in different parts of the report, was found shortly before midnight on a side road near Vouliagmenis Avenue and Pikrodafnis Street. His partner had previously reported him missing after he failed to return home and his cellphone remained active, transmitting a location from the area.

The officer had left his home in Neos Kosmos at around 11 p.m. Sunday, according to information from authorities. His partner, who had been searching for him, went to the Acropolis Police Department on Monday evening to report his disappearance.

His colleagues used the location signal from his cellphone to focus their search on Agios Dimitrios, where they found him dead inside the service vehicle.

Forensic examination under way

The officer was found in the passenger seat, with the vehicle locked. Initial information indicated that he had scratches on his neck, bruising on his hands and marks on his neck and face.

A forensic pathologist immediately went to the scene to examine the body. The exact cause of death is expected to be determined by the forensic examination.

However, the forensic pathologist’s initial assessment did not, so far, indicate that the death was the result of a criminal act.

The Directorate for Combating Organized Crime has taken over the investigation, while officers spent more than four hours examining the area and collecting evidence.

The investigation on Pikrodafnis Street concluded shortly before 4 a.m., in the presence of the forensic pathologist, security police officers and personnel from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime.

Cellphone location among key clues

Authorities are examining the fact that the officer’s cellphone remained switched on and continued transmitting its location, even though he had not reported for duty.

His colleagues eventually located him using the phone’s signal, which placed him in the Agios Dimitrios area.

Investigators are now examining all available evidence to determine what happened between the time he left his home and when he was found dead.

His partner reportedly told authorities that nothing unusual had occurred on the day he disappeared, adding another unanswered question to the investigation.