Iliá: Suspect of the 11-Year-Old's Murder Sent to Prosecutor

Shock is caused by the revelation of the brutal murder of an 11-year-old girl in the village of Myrtia in Iliá.

The 37-year-old uncle, who, according to the police, confessed to killing her, is being taken to the prosecutor today.

The 37-year-old had been arrested in 2017 for the rape of a minor, sentenced to 9 years in prison, and remained free under the restrictive condition of appearing twice a month at the police station in his area.

The unfortunate girl was found dead early Monday afternoon in a field with a wound from a sharp object to her neck, likely from a screwdriver. She disappeared Sunday night from her home in Myrtia, Eliá, for which an amber alert was issued.

The child's mother filed a missing person report early Monday morning, and from that moment, Pyrgos Security began its investigation. From video footage collected and analyzed by the police, they saw 11-year-old Vasilikí boarding a car willingly and leaving. As it turned out, the car belonged to the 37-year-old Roma cousin and godfather of the minor's mother, whom the unfortunate child trusted.

The police arrested him, and initially, he tried to persuade them that he had nothing to do with the girl's disappearance, but he fell into contradictions. Eventually, however, he confessed to killing the child and indicated to the police where he had thrown the body. The 37-year-old claimed that his motive was sexual but still does not admit whether he actually committed it.

At the point where the girl's body was found, Kataráchi of Eliá, a forensic pathologist, was called to determine if there were indications of rape or an attempt, as preliminary evidence suggests that was the motive.

The time of the child's death is estimated late at night, even shortly after midnight on Sunday, while the forensic pathologist wants to perform the autopsy first to determine if there was sexual abuse.

The police are still investigating whether the crime was indeed committed so far away from the girl's home or if the 11-year-old's body was transported there afterwards.

"He lives in the village. He has six children. We are shocked, these things that happen to children are terrible," said Vasilis Thrakías, president of the Areti community, adding that the confessed perpetrator "had delinquent behavior."

"I just found out recently that he had been accused; since he was here in Areti, nothing like that had been heard," said a resident of the area to ERTNews' camera. Asked if the 37-year-old knew the area, he answered affirmatively, saying that he worked in the fields.