Femicide in Rodopi: He killed her before she filed for divorce – Perpetrator had a history of violence

A case file for intentional homicide, domestic violence, and violation of the weapons law was opened against the 53-year-old man who stabbed his 44-year-old wife to death in a village in Rodopi.

The man, who self-harmed after the attack and reportedly swallowed fuel to end his life, is currently hospitalized under police guard at the “Sismanogleio” Hospital of Komotini.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, August 26, in the settlement of Dialampi, sending shockwaves through the local community. According to the Hellenic Police, the 44-year-old was found dead by EKAB paramedics inside her home, bearing a wound to her neck caused by a sharp object.

The police were notified by the family’s adult daughter, while all three of the couple’s children were inside the home at the time of the crime.

The woman was taken to the General Hospital of Komotini, but doctors pronounced her dead on arrival, and an autopsy is expected to be performed.

At the scene of the crime, police officers located and seized two knives.

The 44-year-old returned for her daughter’s birthday – She was to file for divorce on Thursday

According to reports, the couple was separated. The 44-year-old was working seasonally at a hotel in Thassos and had returned to Rodopi to be near her children and celebrate her minor daughter’s birthday. In fact, according to reports, she had planned to officially file for divorce tomorrow, Thursday.

The woman was a mother of three children—two adults and one minor.

Following the attack, the 53-year-old reportedly turned the knife on himself, inflicting abdominal wounds, and according to reports, he also swallowed fuel. He was transported by EKAB ambulance to the hospital, where he remains hospitalized under police guard.

After he was extubated, the authorities formally arrested him and opened a criminal case against him for intentional homicide, domestic violence, and weapons law violations.

He was arrested for domestic threats in 2022 – Over 5 complaints filed against him

According to the Hellenic Police statement, the 53-year-old had previously come to the attention of authorities regarding a case involving the victim.

Specifically, in 2022 in Heraklion, Crete, he was arrested under the flagrante delicto procedure for domestic threats against his wife. Furthermore, the 44-year-old had reportedly reported him more than five times for threats and had requested his involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, which ultimately did not occur.

Over the last three years, no new incidents of domestic violence were reportedly recorded, as the 53-year-old was being monitored by a psychiatrist and was taking medication.

Official Police Statement on the Crime:

“A foreign national accused of homicide against his wife was arrested early this afternoon in a settlement in Rodopi. A case file was established against the detainee by the Komotini Crime Prosecution and Investigation Department for intentional homicide, domestic violence, and violation of the Weapons Act.

Specifically, early this afternoon (26-08-2026), a foreign female national was located by a relative inside her residence in a Rodopi settlement, bearing a wound from a sharp object, and was transferred to the Komotini hospital, where her death was confirmed.

Police officers immediately executed coordinated actions and conducted a crime scene investigation, resulting in the arrest of her husband—also a foreign national—who reportedly injured her with a knife and subsequently self-harmed. The alleged perpetrator was transported by an EKAB unit to a hospital, where he is hospitalized under guard.

It is noted that in 2022 in Heraklion, Crete, the alleged perpetrator had been arrested under the flagrante delicto procedure for domestic threats against the victim. Two knives were seized from the scene. The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Komotini Crime Prosecution and Investigation Department.”