Wife killer James Claude Lesi, aged 24, told the police of how he managed to survive for 18 days in the cold after killing his wife and kidnapping his 4-year-old son Fivos. On the first night, they both camped out in a tent on the mountains before finding an abandoned car to sleep in and then hiding out in other shelters wherever they could.

The little boy’s grandfather whose daughter was murdered by Lesi told protothema.gr that his former son-in-law traveled by foot with the child at hand. In at least one case, it is believed that he broke into a house. For food, the little boy was given stolen fruit, a chicken and at one point – flour.

The family has found little Fivos changed following the ordeal. “He has totally changed. We have now promised to raise him with his brother,” he says.

The little boy’s ordeal ended on Sunday following a telephone call made by a 75-year-old stating that he had seen the man and the child at an olive farm near the village.

The child’s health appears to be in a good condition and he is at the pediatric ward of the Polygyros hospital. A social worker and psychologist are already with the child to help the family recover from the traumatic situation.

On his part, Lesi’s goal was to escape to Albania, his country of origin, however found it hard to pass through the road blocks so he had been hiding out in an area near Ormylia, very close to the family. Sources state that his first words to the police were: “Let’s get it over with.”

A shepherd spotted Lesi, and this caused a group of volunteers to go to the scene where he was staking out to capture him before handing him over to the police.