Mystras: 55-year-old confesses hiding his dead father in a freezer

A horrifying case has come to light in Mystras, Laconia, where a 55-year-old man had hidden his dead father in a freezer for years.

The man confessed, saying that he had kept his father’s body for more than two and a half years so that he could continue receiving his pension.

More specifically, the macabre case was uncovered yesterday, Tuesday (4 August), with the 55-year-old facing charges of making a false statement, repeated fraud and violating weapons legislation.

How the case came to light

The investigation began after the authorities received information concerning the elderly man’s prolonged absence.

According to ERT, police called the 55-year-old son in for questioning and, in the presence of a judicial official, searched the premises of a hotel. During the search, they found the elderly man’s body inside a freezer.

Initial reports indicate that the body was deeply frozen and bore no visible external injuries suggesting foul play.

However, the exact cause and time of death will be established through a post-mortem examination and forensic investigation.

The 55-year-old was arrested and reportedly told police that his father had died of natural causes approximately two to two and a half years ago. He claimed that he had kept the body in the freezer ever since so that he could continue collecting the deceased man’s pension. However, local residents said they had not seen the elderly man for more than four years.

The authorities are investigating all possibilities.

Hellenic Police’s statement on the case

“A 55-year-old Greek national was arrested at noon today (4 August 2026) in a local community within the Municipality of Sparta by officers of the Sparta Crime Investigation and Detection Department, as part of an investigation into the absence of his 90-year-old father and the subsequent extensive police inquiry. As established, he concealed the 90-year-old man’s death from the authorities so that he could continue receiving his pension.

A case file was opened against the 55-year-old for making a false statement, repeated fraud and violating weapons legislation.

During a search carried out in the presence of a judicial official at a disused hotel owned by the 55-year-old, the body of a man was found inside a freezer in the basement. The body was identified as that of the deceased 90-year-old. In addition, an air pistol was found and confiscated during the search.

A forensic pathologist and a team from the Sparta Criminal Investigation Office attended the scene, while a post-mortem examination of the body was ordered.

The arrested man will be brought before the competent authorities, while the preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Sparta Crime Investigation and Detection Department.”