Parents Held After Leaving Infant Alone on Balcony in Thessaloniki

The parents of an 11-month-old infant found crying alone on a balcony in Thessaloniki have been detained at the Vourvoulias police station in Vardas since Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The child was discovered unattended while the rest of the family members were asleep inside the apartment with closed balcony doors. The Bulgarian-nationality parents were initially released Tuesday after being questioned by prosecutors but failed to appear at the Thessaloniki Primary Court Prosecution Office as instructed. Following investigations, authorities located them again. The four children of the family will temporarily reside at the General Hospital of Pyrgos to ensure their health and safety while the social and legal investigation continues. The incident came to light Monday when neighbors noticed the baby crying continuously on the balcony. Some even recorded videos of the abandoned infant in the stroller. Police intervened at the central apartment in Thessaloniki, finding the parents asleep with their other children while the baby remained outside. According to neighbors, this wasn’t the first time such an event occurred. Both parents face charges of endangering a minor, with the case now under judicial and social services review to determine the living conditions and possible long-term neglect of the children.