Sixteen years after the death of 54-year-old British woman Jean Hanlon (Jean Hanlon), the case that shocked Crete remains unsolved. The prime suspect in her death appeared yesterday, Wednesday, January 8, before Heraklion’s third investigating magistrate to give explanations and was eventually released.

Jean Hanlon’s lifeless body was found floating off the coast in Heraklion in March 2009, four days after she disappeared. Initially, her death was attributed to drowning. However, a second forensic investigation overturned the facts, concluding that the woman had suffered a fall injury before being found at sea. This new finding turned the case into a homicide.

Despite the initial stagnation in the investigation, Hanlon’s three sons did not give up the effort. They hired private investigator Charles Veramon, who uncovered important evidence that brought the case back to the forefront. The family’s determination and their cooperation with the investigator seems to have played a crucial role in the development of the case.

Who was Jean Hanlon

Jean Hanlon had chosen to live permanently in the Heraklion Waves, a place she loved. Social and vibrant, she sought meaningful connections with the people around her while researching her family tree. She was kind, insightful,l and emotional, but also selective in her relationships. But, as the evidence suggests, she found herself in the wrong company at the time, which cost her her life.

The case opens for the fourth time in the Greek courts, with the 54-year-old’s family expecting vindication after a long struggle. The new development revives their hopes for the full disclosure of the truth.

Private investigator Harry Veramon, who took on the case of Jean Hanlon, describes his first steps, the difficulties he faced, and the findings that led to the case being turned around.

When asked what prompted him to get involved in the case, Mr. Veramon explained that it all started with a detailed analysis of the case file. “There were several testimonies of a confusing nature, which complicated the theories. The case creates a personal stake for me, as 16 years have passed since the crime. I also can’t ignore the emotional charge I feel knowing that Hanlon’s son sleeps with a huge frame of his mother every night, living for her vindication.”

Speaking about the failures in the initial investigations, Mr. Veramon said two innocent people were falsely accused. “By 2021, the authorities had the same people as suspects without expanding the investigation. They did, of course, have the person I named, but the existence of several suspects showed blurring in their approach. That is why the case was put on file for the third time.”

As for the new evidence that emerged, he noted: “I discovered witnesses who were not in the case file and outlined the profile of the perpetrator. In addition, I made full use of the deceased’s diary, which was a tremendous guide to the investigation. The perpetrator had become Hanlon’s shadow.”

On his cooperation with Hanlon’s family, he said it was excellent: “With the family’s attorney, Apostolos Xyritakis, and Hanlon’s sons, we are now a team. We started the investigation from scratch, as the family could not be led to any firm conclusions from the original file.”

Mr Veramon admitted that, at first, he was reticent about the family. “I did not give false hope, as it was the first cold case I had undertaken. But Hanlon’s diary was the thing that kept me focused. Her soul spoke through its pages.”

The key clue was the perpetrator’s behaviour, which the investigator described as “very specific”. “Every testimony I found painted his personality. The documentation was based on a combination of information and facts.”

Referring to the obstacles, he noted: “We had no background from the authorities, but after the case progressed, we received threats from the defendant’s entourage.”