The conclusions reached by the experts appointed by the Hellenic Police (ELAS) to investigate the deaths of infants in the presence of Irini Mourtzoukou have been revealed by protothema.gr.

Their findings were critical in leading to the arrest of the 25-year-old woman, who, after being taken into custody, broke down before homicide detectives and confessed to the murders.

The Case of Popi’s Infant (February 2021)

For the infant of Popi, murdered by Irini in February 2021, a forensic pathologist had originally concluded that the child died from interstitial pneumonia. However, the neurologist appointed by ELAS determined that the child did not suffer from epilepsy or any neurological disorder, and that the cause of death was not interstitial pneumonia or a seizure-related condition. Instead, the expert concluded that death likely occurred due to a hypoxic-asphyxial mechanism of unknown origin.

A professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, also appointed by ELAS, found no evidence in the child’s medical history indicating pre-existing lung damage.

The forensic pathologists, meanwhile, did find signs of interstitial pneumonia in the lungs, but also noted changes in the thymus gland resembling a “starry sky” pattern — a sign of hypoxia — and signs of hypoxia in the brain as well.

The 19-Day-Old Infant (June 2022)

Regarding Irini’s own 19-day-old infant, who died in June 2022, while a coroner had again ruled the cause of death as interstitial pneumonia, experts appointed by the homicide division disagreed.

The associate professor of Pediatric Neurology concluded that there was no evidence of neurological or other disorders to explain the death. The Pediatric Infectious Diseases professor stated that the diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia in infants is non-specific, and that the symptoms observed before death and the lung findings could not definitively explain the cause.

Forensic pathologists found severe hydropic degeneration of liver cells without a zonal distribution, a pattern that suggests hypoxia.

The Second Child (October 2023)

As for Irini’s second child, murdered in October 2023, a coroner had attributed the death to epilepsy and high-dose medication. However, again, the scientific review found otherwise.

The associate professor of Pediatric Neurology asserted that the child did not suffer from epilepsy, and that the episodes of unconsciousness had no neurological or pathological basis. It is likely, the expert suggested, that the death was not due to a medical cause.

Although signs of interstitial pneumonia were again observed in the lungs, “starry sky” changes in the thymus — consistent with hypoxia — were also present.

These critical findings, which contradicted initial autopsy reports, ultimately led to the arrest and confession of Irini Mourtzoukou.