Irini Mourtzoukou, the 24-year-old woman at the center of a disturbing case involving the deaths of multiple infants, has been arrested by Greek authorities. She was found on Monday afternoon at a hotel in Athens, shortly after meeting with her lawyer. According to reports, neither she nor her legal counsel were aware that an arrest warrant had been issued.
Mourtzoukou is accused of murdering three infants — two of whom were her own children — and attempting to murder an adult woman by suffocation. Her arrest was carried out by the Homicide Division of the Organized Crime Directorate, following a warrant issued by the Investigative Department of Achaia.
She is currently held at police headquarters (GADA) and is expected to appear before the prosecutor at Evelpidon on Tuesday, before being transferred to Patras to testify before the investigating judge.
Her lawyer, Nikos Alexandris, visited GADA on Monday evening to be informed of the arrest. According to sources, Mourtzoukou had been at Alexandris’s law office earlier that day, with no indication that her arrest was imminent.
The Charges and Case Background
The case has shocked public opinion due to the gravity of the accusations and the alleged involvement of Mourtzoukou in crimes against her own family.
The charges relate to:
- The murder of her two children, in separate incidents.
- The murder of another infant.
- The attempted murder of an adult woman by suffocation.
In a statement, the lawyers representing Mourtzoukou’s mother, Elias Sideris and Sofia Polyzogopoulou, said:
“Our client is prepared to cooperate with authorities and provide any evidence requested. We expect the investigation to proceed swiftly given the five-day deadline for the accused to testify. We have always been available to the authorities and now to the investigating judge to help clarify the matter.”
Timeline of Key Events
The case revolves around five infant deaths, all of which occurred in the presence of Mourtzoukou — either as the mother, sister, or caregiver. Despite the repeated pattern, the cases had not been formally linked until recently.
- February 6, 2014 – Argos: Mourtzoukou’s 1.5-year-old sister dies from respiratory infection and interstitial pneumonitis.
- February 4, 2021 – Achaia: A 6-month-old baby, left in Mourtzoukou’s care by a friend, dies. Autopsy cites interstitial pneumonitis; the infant also had a history of seizures.
- June 19, 2022 – Achaia: Mourtzoukou’s 19-day-old infant dies while at home. Death again attributed to interstitial pneumonitis. Genetic tests were clear.
- October 17, 2023 – Athens (Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital): Mourtzoukou’s 2-month-old daughter dies. Hospital cites cardiac arrest; the coroner reports seizures and heavy medication as the likely cause.
- August 5, 2024 – Amaliada: Mourtzoukou is present when her friend’s 15-month-old son, Panagiotis, reportedly shows strange symptoms. Mourtzoukou and the boy’s mother claim he died in the hospital, but doctors state the child was brought in dead.
Public and Legal Response
The legal handling of the case has drawn criticism, with many asking why the deaths were not investigated under a unified case file earlier. Separate investigations are still ongoing — one in Patras and one in Ilia.
Mourtzoukou’s own mother, Kalliopi, has publicly stated she believes her daughter may be responsible for the deaths, adding further weight to the prosecution’s case.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the deaths and circumstances surrounding them. Mourtzoukou is expected to provide a full deposition in the coming days.
Authorities have arrested Eirini Mourtzoukou in a shocking case involving the murder of three infants — two of whom were her own children — as well as the attempted murder of an adult woman.
According to initial information, the investigation centers around the following charges:
- The murder of two of her own children, committed at different times
- The murder of a third infant
- The attempted murder of an adult woman, allegedly through suffocation
The case has sparked widespread public attention due to the particularly disturbing nature of the allegations. Mourtzoukou was taken into custody and transported to the Athens Police Headquarters (GADA), where she remains under guard.
She is expected to be transferred to the Evelpidon court complex on Thursday to testify before a magistrate. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the full circumstances and possible motives behind the alleged crimes.
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