A 46-year-old woman has confessed to the brutal murder of her 75-year-old mother-in-law in Salamina, Greece, shedding light on the possible motives and circumstances surrounding the crime. Authorities are investigating whether others were aware of the events before her admission.

Before describing her murder she stated that, “I still can’t believe why I did this terrible thing. It feels like a theatre of the absurd. But I want to explain everything to you. I am a person who has suffered a lot. I tried for years to have a child and even underwent IVF treatments, but I was unsuccessful. I experienced multiple miscarriages. After these losses, I turned to gambling as a way to escape. However, that was not the reason I committed this act. Whatever I say, I have no excuse. I know that, but I want you to listen to me and try to understand.”

In her statement, the woman claimed that her gambling addiction and financial pressures were the primary motives. She explained that the mother-in-law had emergency cash at home, part of which had been lost due to her stepsons.

She had managed to return €8,000 but needed to repay an additional €1,100, which she claimed she lost gambling. Unable to earn the money elsewhere, she decided to take the remaining cash from her mother-in-law’s home to give to her husband, who would then settle the debt.

Describing the night of the murder, the suspect said she prepared carefully to avoid detection. She wore black clothes, gloves, a hood, and a full-face mask. She turned off the power to avoid triggering security cameras, drove to a side street near the house, and waited around 20 minutes before acting. Entering through a back window with a red tool used to break glass, she claimed she initially intended only to retrieve money, not to harm the victim.

However, when her mother-in-law confronted her, the suspect said she panicked. She struck the woman with a glass bottle and later used a knife, fearing the victim had recognized her. She could not recall how many times she struck her, repeatedly emphasizing her remorse and claiming she had no intention to kill.

After the murder, she returned home, cleaned her clothes and gloves, and disposed of the tools used in the crime. She also visited a psychiatrist afterward and reportedly began taking medication.

The suspect’s confession contradicted earlier statements in which she denied knowing about the money at her mother-in-law’s house. Family members reported that no money was found at the crime scene, suggesting she may have taken some cash. Relatives also noted ongoing family tensions, including jealousy over her husband’s late first wife and disputes over funeral arrangements for the deceased husband, which may have contributed to her actions.

Some family members believe the woman may have had a “dual motive,” combining jealousy with financial gain, and there are suspicions that someone else in the household may have known or even helped conceal the crime. She reportedly went to her family home in Petroupoli immediately after the murder, fueling speculation about accomplices.

Authorities continue to investigate the case, which has shocked the local community and drawn attention to the deadly consequences of financial pressures, family conflicts, and personal grievances.

Family in Grief

The family of the victim has expressed the profound emotional strain the incident has caused. Speaking publicly, a family member said, “My brother is also a victim. He thought the money had been deposited in the bank, as our mother had told him. He didn’t know otherwise. He has been watched closely by the police as a suspect, and this has been extremely difficult for him.”

The family also reflected on the psychological trauma of the event. “Hearing our mother plead for her life from someone close to us is the hardest thing we have experienced in the last month. We are trying to stay strong for our children, to show them what truly matters,” the relative said.

Concerns for the children were paramount, with the family noting that authorities had been warned of potential risks. “I feared she might harm our children and had informed the police. She had clearly lost control, but before this, I never thought she could hurt anyone,” the relative added. Despite the suspect reportedly expressing remorse, family members are skeptical, noting the irony that she had even planned a religious ritual before her arrest.