Authorities continue their investigation into the death of a 38-year-old police officer, who was found dead inside a standard police vehicle in Agios Dimitrios, on the evening of Monday (10/8), with all possibilities remaining open. The officer, who served with the Athens Patrol Sub-Directorate, was found in the passenger seat of the locked vehicle at the intersection of Pikrodafnis and Vouliagmenis streets. A bottle of alcohol was discovered inside the vehicle.
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The officer had been reported missing by his partner, who had not heard from him for several hours. The Greek Police officer had left the home he shared with his fellow officer partner in the Neos Kosmos area on Sunday evening (9/8) and vanished without a trace. It was she who filed a missing persons report on Monday evening (10/8) at the Acropolis District Police Station, and approximately two and a half hours later he was found dead, with the police vehicle parked in an outdoor parking lot in the Agios Dimitrios area.
Dead police officer in Agios Dimitrios: Last appointment & alcohol bottle found in vehicle under scrutiny
Authorities are attempting to reconstruct the officer’s final movements, minute by minute. According to what his partner is reported to have stated, the 38-year-old had no known health issues, and there had been no argument between them before he disappeared. She initially assumed he had gone to work, as she noted it was not unusual for him to be away and return home the following morning. Statements will also be taken from his colleagues, as well as from a person who met with him on the last day before he went missing.
One of the key questions occupying investigators is why the officer was found in the passenger seat and who was driving the police vehicle. It is also being investigated whether he was alone when he arrived at the location. Furthermore, the bottle of alcohol found inside the vehicle has not gone unnoticed by investigators, as it appears that something was troubling the 38-year-old. Security camera footage in the area is expected to shed light on the mystery.
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What the forensic examination revealed
Initial findings from the forensic examiner revealed no visible signs pointing to criminal activity; however, clear answers regarding the exact cause of death are expected to come from the autopsy and the results of toxicology tests.
The on-site investigation was completed shortly before 4:00 a.m. A forensic examiner and officers from multiple police departments responded to the scene, including the Security Division and the Organized Crime Unit. The forensic examiner estimated that the 38-year-old had died approximately 10 hours before he was discovered. The initial examination revealed, among other findings, severe pulmonary edema as well as pronounced signs of hypoxia — that is, a lack of oxygen. No visible external injuries were found on his body.
