A 34-year-old woman who was due to stand trial for abandoning her newborn baby in a rubbish bin has been found dead in her cell at a police detention facility in Heraklion, on the Greek island of Crete.

The woman was discovered unresponsive on Sunday morning in the holding cells of the local police headquarters, where she was being held ahead of court proceedings scheduled for the following Tuesday. According to police sources, she had gone to sleep the night before without reporting any health issues.

Authorities were alerted when officers found she was not responding in the morning. A medical team was called to the scene, where her death was confirmed. Initial indications suggest she died in her sleep.

Case that shocked Greece

The woman was facing trial over a case that deeply shocked public opinion in Greece in May 2025.

She had given birth alone at home and then placed the newborn inside a blue plastic rubbish bag, abandoning the baby in a nearby waste container.

The incident came to light when her husband returned home and found her covered in blood. The husband, who was undergoing gender transition at the time, reportedly said he was unaware of the pregnancy.

He immediately called emergency services. Paramedics quickly realized the woman had recently given birth, and police and rescue teams launched an urgent search, locating the newborn alive inside the bin. The baby was rescued and survived following medical treatment.

The woman had a history of substance addiction issues, according to reports. She was in custody awaiting her court appearance when she died.

Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding her death in detention.