Infant murder in Kypseli: Couple questioned over 18 stab wounds – Syphilis in three children
The 43-year-old man and 38-year-old woman are under interrogation for the murder of an infant found frozen in Kypseli. The couple's three children have been diagnosed with syphilis.
Kypseli: Interrogation over infant murder – Drugs, human trafficking and children raised on the margins
Investigations are underway into the murder of an infant discovered in a frozen state in an apartment in Kypseli, according to In.gr. The 43-year-old man and 38-year-old woman claiming to be the child's parents are under interrogation at the police department, whilst authorities do not rule out rapid developments in the coming hours.
Initially, both were arrested for drugs found in the apartment alongside a 26-year-old Afghan man. Following a medical examination which showed that the infant received 18 stab wounds to the back, a new case file was opened for homicide. Since Tuesday evening, the couple has been making fresh statements regarding the circumstances of the child's death.
Unreliable claims and questions over dating
The couple's claims that the infant died of natural causes and that they kept it in the freezer for emotional reasons — and for fear of losing custody of the other three children — do not convince authorities. The medical examination rules out any pathological problem in the infant.
Police also dispute the 38-year-old's claim that the child had been in the freezer since 2023. The evidence at their disposal leads them to conclude that the homicide was committed much more recently. The initial medical examination was unable to determine the time of death precisely due to the prolonged freezing of the body; laboratory test results are awaited.
"Joint act" under the influence of drugs
Journalist Vassilis Lambropoulis revealed on MEGA's main news bulletin that police consider it likely the crime was committed jointly by the couple. Both are users of hard drugs and it is believed they killed the infant because its crying annoyed them whilst they were under the influence of substances.
"The authorities do not know who stabbed and killed it. It is a joint act, a conspiracy in this murderous action because they are under the influence of drugs and they regard the child — they are unable due to drug use to look after the child, to stop it crying, etc. — They regard the child as an annoyance to them and kill it. That is what they believe happened," said Lambropoulis.
A key question for police remains the precise time and place of the homicide, as well as securing a confession.
Three children with syphilis — the 15-year-old pregnant and drug-dependent
Many answers are expected from statements by the three children: a 15-year-old who is pregnant and two boys aged 9 and 12. Under the prosecutor's orders, the children will give statements in the presence of a child psychologist.
All three children have been diagnosed with syphilis. Investigations are underway into how the sexually transmitted infection was transmitted. For the two boys, it was established that they did not suffer sexual abuse.
The 15-year-old, according to information cited by In.gr, is reportedly dependent on narcotic substances and has suffered systematic abuse from both the 43-year-old and the 26-year-old Afghan, who stated he was her partner. The possibility is also being examined that the dead infant belonged to the 15-year-old rather than the 38-year-old; for this reason a DNA test will be conducted, as with the three children, in order to establish paternity.
Brothel, drugs and repeated state failings
The three children grew up essentially in apartments that the 43-year-old, acting as a human trafficker, converted into brothels in central Athens. At the same time, according to complaints from residents of apartment buildings in both Kypseli and on Fyllis Street, individuals of unknown identity were constantly entering and leaving, whilst the couple used and trafficked drugs.
The "Smile of the Child" organisation had been notified of neglect and substance use by the parents. Only within 2025, on three occasions the children were taken to Children's Hospital due to neglect. According to the president of POEDIN, police and the prosecutor had been informed repeatedly at least since 2020. The 43-year-old was located, took the children and removed them.
The 43-year-old's history with authorities is not recent: in 2020 he was charged with human trafficking against a 40-year-old German woman on Acharnes Street, was held in Korydallos prison and was released in October of the same year.
Questions remain open for the responsible state services and the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family: the signs were there, complaints had been filed, but no one intervened effectively to protect the children.
Source: In.gr