Mystery continues to surround the deaths of 54-year-old Maria and her 26-year-old son Olympios, found dead in Longos, Aigio, nearly one month after the tragedy that shocked all of Greece. While the 65-year-old Italian partner of the woman remains in pre-trial detention, the investigation has reached a critical juncture as authorities await the final forensic report and reassess all evidence gathered so far. New findings that have emerged in recent days appear to challenge the initial picture of the case, leading investigators to examine all possible scenarios — none of which can be ruled out at this stage.
Although the 65-year-old stands accused of double homicide and remains held at Korydallos Prison, the evidence accumulated so far appears to be undergoing fresh evaluation. The officers handling the case are working to piece together all findings in the case file, while simultaneously awaiting the definitive forensic examination report, which is considered pivotal to the direction of the investigation.
Aigio: the phone call placed under the microscope
Among the pieces of evidence being examined with particular care is a phone call that the 54-year-old woman is reported to have had with her son shortly before he traveled to Aigio. According to information, the woman allegedly told him: “They’ve made me hurt you.” Investigators are working to decode this specific phrase and determine whether it is connected to the woman’s psychological state or whether it constitutes a clue that could explain the events that followed.
The covered body of the 26-year-old
Significant weight is also being placed on the fact that the body of the 26-year-old was found covered. According to criminological literature, covering a victim’s body is a characteristic that has been documented in certain cases where the perpetrator maintained a close emotional bond with the victim. This act is attributed either to feelings of guilt and shame, or to a symbolic gesture of “care” following the death. Based on this, investigators are also examining the possibility that the mother — should it be proven that she was the one who shot her son — subsequently covered his body.
The new forensic findings
The final forensic report is expected to play a decisive role in how the case develops. However, the findings so far appear to challenge some of the initial assessments. Specifically, the wounds found on the 54-year-old woman’s wrists are being examined as possible hesitation wounds — that is, superficial injuries commonly seen in certain suicide cases prior to the final, fatal wound.
At the same time, the existence of defensive wounds has not so far been confirmed, nor has a wound to the back, while the stab wounds to the chest are reported to be concentrated in the same area.
The forensic laboratory results
The findings from the forensic laboratories are also considered significant. It is worth noting that no bloody imprint belonging to the 65-year-old has been found at the scene, nor has his genetic material been detected on either the gun or the knife — on which, by contrast, the DNA of the 54-year-old woman has been identified. Furthermore, no gunpowder residue is reported to have been found on the accused’s hands, while DNA belonging to the 26-year-old son has been detected beneath the woman’s fingernails.
What forensic pathologist Dimitris Galenteris tells parapolitika.gr
Speaking to parapolitika.gr, forensic pathologist Dimitris Galenteris explains that no conclusions can be drawn until the evaluation of all scientific data has been completed. As he points out, when sharp-force injuries are superficial and located on the palmar surface of the hands, the wrists, or even the neck, they may be classified as hesitation wounds — that is, injuries self-inflicted by the victim prior to the final, fatal blow. He clarifies, however, that particular importance lies not only in the number of wounds but also in their nature.
“If we’re talking about twenty vertical stab wounds, that is extremely difficult to reconcile with suicide. But if several of them are superficial, tangential rather than typical stab wounds that penetrate vertically into the body, then they may indeed be hesitation wounds,” he notes. He further explains that hesitation wounds should not be confused with defensive wounds. “Defensive wounds are typically found on the dorsal surface of the hands, whereas hesitation wounds appear primarily on the palmar surface and around the wrists,” he adds.
As he stresses, the final forensic report will serve as an important guide for the direction of the investigation, but will not be sufficient on its own. “The report points the way, but it must align with all the other evidence gathered during the preliminary inquiry. The toxicology findings, the forensic laboratory results, witness testimony and all remaining evidence must ‘lock together,'” he emphasizes.
When asked about information that had been made public in the early days of the investigation — such as references to a wound on the back of the 54-year-old — he expresses caution. “We don’t know whether those were actually the initial findings or information that was leaked. Even a wound on the back may not have been a typical stab wound but a different type of injury altogether. Only the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy can know that,” he points out.
Finally, Mr. Galenteris underscores that in cases as complex as this one, the full picture emerges only from the combined assessment of all scientific and preliminary investigative data. “A forensic pathologist must evaluate the totality of findings, not isolated pieces of evidence. That is precisely why safe conclusions can only be drawn once the investigation into the case has been fully completed,” he concludes.
