Murder of Eleni Papadopoulou: The evidence that led to the arrest of her son

Developments in the case of the death of Eleni Papadopoulou in Kolonaki—who was found charred in her home in January 2022—are rapid.

On Friday morning (26/12), police arrested her 60-year-old son following an arrest warrant issued against him for the murder of his mother. Specifically, the warrant includes the charges of intentional homicide and arson.

The 60-year-old was brought earlier today to the courts of the former Evelpidon School. He first appeared before the Prosecutor for the Execution of Sentences, where the warrant was carried out, and was then referred to the investigating magistrate. There, he requested and received time to prepare his testimony and is expected to appear again at the same courts on Tuesday (30/12).

From the very beginning, he claimed that the fire had been caused by a cigarette, as his mother was a heavy smoker; however, this claim did not convince the authorities.

The 60-year-old is alleged to have given his mother a fatal dose of sedatives and then set fire to the apartment to cover his tracks.

The findings that incriminated the 60-year-old

The 87-year-old woman had been found charred in an apartment on Lykavittou Street, and at first her death was considered an accident. However, a series of findings from the authorities’ investigation overturned the initial conclusion.

Specifically, according to information from the Fire Service, flammable liquid was found inside the apartment and on the clothes of the unfortunate woman.

At the same time, the toxicology tests of the 87-year-old showed that she had been given a sedative substance, while the level of carbon dioxide found in her body was not consistent with someone who had died from smoke inhalation.

According to police sources, the Homicide Division’s investigation revealed that mother and son often argued over financial disputes, as the son had been pressuring her to sell the Kolonaki apartment due to his debts.

The announcement of the Hellenic Police

“By the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, a 60-year-old local man was arrested in the early hours of today, Friday 26 December 2025, as an arrest warrant had been issued against him for intentional homicide and arson.

As regards the timeline of the case, in the afternoon hours of 29-1-2022, the Fire Service was notified of a fire in an apartment in Kolonaki. After the fire was extinguished, an 88-year-old local woman was found inside, charred.

The preliminary investigation was initially conducted by the Fire Service and subsequently by the Department of Crimes Against Life and Personal Freedom of the Sub-Directorate for the Prosecution of Crimes Against Life and Property, following an order from the competent Prosecutor to conduct a preliminary examination.

Specifically, in the context of the thorough investigation, evidence emerged—both during the initial scene investigation and collection of exhibits, as well as through subsequent laboratory and pre-trial procedures (examination of exhibits by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, toxicology tests, medical data, witness statements, special investigative techniques)—which indicated arson with the aim of concealing a homicide.”