Cretans remain in shock following the brutal murder of Eleftheria Giakoumaki, 43, in Agia Varvara near Heraklion. She was killed by her ex-partner in what authorities describe as a premeditated act. Police in Heraklion are urgently searching for Giakoumaki’s mobile phone — a key piece of evidence that could clarify how the suspect lured her to the fatal meeting.
According to reporting by Star, the phone was not found inside her car — the vehicle where the tragedy ended. Officers searched the nearby field and even the church where the deadly rendezvous was arranged, but no trace of the device was found. Evidence suggests the killer deliberately tried to destroy or hide it: the last known cell tower connection was in a different location from where her car was discovered.
Although she was murdered on Sunday morning, 19 March 2026, repeated calls from her family in the hours immediately after the crime were abruptly cut off — as if someone had manually ended each call. Later that same afternoon, an automated message was sent from her phone to her son: “I’ll call you later.” Her Viber account remained active until Monday morning.
Investigators believe her ex-partner likely discarded the phone to erase incriminating messages, threats, or evidence of motive — assuming police would eventually locate it. The murder weapon — a 9mm handgun — also remains missing.
A Chilling Encounter at the Police Station
Giakoumaki’s brother encountered the suspect by chance at the local police station before giving his statement. The man greeted him with apparent concern: “Did you find Eleftheria? I hope everything’s okay.”
“He greeted me with the same hand that killed my sister,” the brother recounted. “Without me saying a word, he told me, ‘Mate, I haven’t done anything — we haven’t spoken in two months…’”
Even in front of officers, the suspect feigned ignorance: “I haven’t seen her in two months since we split up. I don’t know where she is.” He reportedly pointed children toward possible search areas — pretending to help.
The Final Meeting at the Chapel
As reported by Star’s main news bulletin, the killer arranged the fatal meeting early Sunday morning at their shared favorite chapel — dedicated to Saint Panteleimon — a quiet, nearly secluded spot. He arrived on a motorcycle; she drove her own car.
A pack of cigarettes and an empty beer can at the scene suggest a brief conversation lasting only seconds. Then, without delay, he drew his pistol. Giakoumaki was seated in the driver’s seat when he shot her at point-blank range — directly in the head.
Witness testimony cited by Star states: “He shot her in the head while she was behind the wheel — then moved her to the back seat and covered her with a jacket.” Further forensic details include a bullet entering through the left side of the rear compartment, exiting the right cheek, and embedding itself in the dashboard. Her left eye was noticeably swollen and discolored — consistent with trauma sustained during or shortly after the shooting.