Authorities have detained a woman of Algerian origin believed to be the mother of a young girl whose body was found dead on a beach in southern Athens, police said on Friday.
The woman, who is not legally residing in Greece, has a troubling history with child welfare. Approximately three years ago, she was arrested and charged with child neglect after a two-month-old infant was found abandoned at the entrance of her apartment building in July 2022. Although police intervened and took her into custody at the time, she was released shortly afterward on a verbal order from the prosecutor.
Now, she is again under investigation – this time in connection with the death of her daughter, estimated to be around three years old, who was discovered early Sunday morning at Edem beach in Palaio Faliro. The woman was arrested earlier on Friday and remains in custody at Athens police headquarters. She is expected to be questioned by coast guard officers.
According to state broadcaster ERT, the woman has not yet given a formal statement but reportedly told police that the child, who was ill, slipped and fell while going to the bathroom on Saturday night and suffered a serious head injury. Fearing the girl had died and lacking legal residency documents, she allegedly chose not to seek medical help and instead took the child to the beach.
ERT reported that the child may have still been alive when she was abandoned.
The woman became a suspect after CCTV footage showed her walking in Palaio Faliro with three children, including one in a stroller wearing a distinctive swimsuit matching that found on the deceased child. Police said the swimsuit was manufactured in Brazil and is not sold in Greece, making it a key identifier.
Additional footage showed the woman shopping at a nearby kiosk and, several hours later, leaving the empty stroller behind a bus stop before departing in a taxi.
Investigators traced the woman by analyzing security camera footage and tracking down the taxi driver who had picked her up. They located the driver at a taxi stand on Ermou Street, with the help of an Israeli tourist who had shared the ride and identified the pickup location via an online app. The driver led police to the drop-off point in Kato Patissia, where officers placed the area under surveillance.
She was arrested on Friday morning as she attempted to leave the residence with two children.
The child’s father, believed to be a Syrian national, is currently unaccounted for. Local media have reported a history of domestic violence involving the family.
The investigation is ongoing. The woman is expected to be questioned on Friday, during which she will be asked to explain how the child drowned. A certified interpreter will need to assist during questioning. Authorities will also take special measures when interviewing the two young boys, who are believed to have witnessed the harrowing incident firsthand.