As hours pass, the mystery gradually unfolds, though some questions remain unanswered. Two days after the brutal murder of the 27-year-old in Nea Peramos, new evidence about the kidnapping and crime, testimonies from his loved ones, and the progress of the police investigation on the path to solving the case keep this story at the forefront of current affairs for another day.
Mega presents the forensic examiner’s conclusions about the victim’s ordeal and the questions tormenting his close relatives. The unknown perpetrators who kidnapped him apparently tortured him for days before killing him execution-style last Sunday. The kidnapping occurred on the night of January 26th outside his girlfriend’s house in Elefsina. Six days later, the 27-year-old was found dead in a stream in Nea Peramos.
Nea Peramos murder: family testimonies
As the victim’s uncle emphasized to Mega, the perpetrators never contacted anyone to demand ransom after the kidnapping. The 27-year-old hadn’t shown any signs of fear recently. “He hadn’t complained about anything. He moved around freely. He hadn’t shown any signs of ‘oh, I’m afraid of something, I shouldn’t go there, I shouldn’t go out at night.’ Nothing at all.”
As Mega reveals, the forensic examination found that on the night of the kidnapping, the perpetrators beat the 27-year-old. The victim had injuries to his lips from punches and a superficial cut on his forehead.
“It devastated us too because we thought that at least he didn’t suffer. But unfortunately, from what it appears, he did suffer. Now why they did it… Only God and his soul know. And we’re trying to make sense of it.”
Throughout the entire past week, the victim was in the hands of his kidnappers at an unknown location. The day before yesterday, the 27-year-old was found dead.
The forensic examination showed that the victim was shot 10 times total. Nine shots to the back and the 10th to the back of his skull.
“The only thing we wish for is that the Police do what they need to do. For these scoundrels to be caught. His soul needs to rest in peace.”
Why did the perpetrators kill the 27-year-old after 6 whole days? Did they do it because the victim tried to escape? Or perhaps the location they chose for the execution was also part of their plan to mislead authorities.
The 27-year-old’s mother
Upon hearing the tragic news, the 27-year-old’s mother traveled from Crete to Athens and was informed about her child’s martyrdom. She reportedly said she hadn’t sensed that her son was in danger.
The 27-year-old had been operating a contracting company alone recently and was living at his girlfriend’s house in Elefsina. That’s where the countdown of his life was destined to begin.
Were the kidnappers the same people who later murdered him? Did they have unresolved issues with him, or perhaps they were acting for someone who paid them?
The victim had a clean criminal record and had never troubled authorities. His uncle tells us that about two years ago, his nephew had survived a car accident in which one of his best friends was killed.
“His jaw was broken. He went to the hospital and was treated. He stayed one day, maybe two if I’m not mistaken, somewhere around there. The driver has been forgiven,” said the 27-year-old’s uncle.
The images, testimonies, and official forensic evidence are under scrutiny. For now, however, the landscape surrounding this brutal crime remains extremely foggy.
Forensic findings
According to the forensic report, the 27-year-old was shot 10 times total, nine shots to the back and one to the back of his skull. Three of the bullets were through-and-through wounds located in the chest area.
One hour before being murdered, the 27-year-old had eaten what was identified as bulgur wheat salad. Injuries from punches were found on his upper and lower lips and between his eyebrows, estimated to be trauma sustained on the day of the kidnapping.
The rest of his body was clean of injuries, without traces of torture or beating.
When they killed him, the perpetrators set fire to eliminate their traces. However, the fire resulted in the destruction of crucial evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA under fingernails, and possible signs of hand restraints.
The perpetrators appeared to deliberately burn the 27-year-old’s hands, while the victim’s face remained completely untouched by the fire.
The 27-year-old’s girlfriend testifies
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, the 27-year-old’s girlfriend gave testimony at the Homicide Department at GADA, with authorities believing her answers could shed light on the murder case.
