The local community in Chania remains deeply shaken following the disappearance—and eventual discovery of the murder—of 45-year-old Stavroula Levendaki. Her tenant, a 43-year-old man from North Macedonia who rented her home in Varypetro, confessed to the crime. The final farewell ceremony for Levendaki in Chania unfolded like a scene from ancient tragedy, with grieving relatives demanding justice for her violent death.
A Divided Narrative
While Levendaki’s family and close friends reject the suspect’s version of events, his wife continues to stand by him, insisting he is innocent. She claims he was coerced into confessing under threats to his life and out of fear.
In his confession, the 43-year-old stated he had previously been in a romantic relationship with Levendaki. On May 30—the day she vanished and was later confirmed murdered—he claimed she visited the property she owned and leased to him, ostensibly to conduct an inspection. According to him, they drank alcohol together, after which she allegedly made sexual advances and threatened to reveal everything to his wife—an act he says triggered the fatal confrontation. Authorities have cited this as the motive.
Yet those closest to Levendaki strongly dispute that account, describing her as highly organized, disciplined, and principled—making such behavior implausible.
‘She Called It “Her Villa”‘
In an interview with Live News, Levendaki’s landlady offered crucial insight into the victim’s state of mind. She recalled meeting Levendaki just three months before her death and described her as kind, composed, and thoughtful—always ready with something positive to say.
But one subject dominated their conversations: Levendaki’s home—the house she affectionately called “her villa.” The landlady explained that Levendaki was deeply distressed by how the tenant treated the property. She repeatedly expressed dismay at seeing military-style boots and shoes placed directly on the walls—a habit she found intolerable.
“‘Have you seen it?’ she’d ask me,” the landlady recalled. “‘People living in a place like this—and putting their boots on the walls?’ She said it over and over. ‘I can’t bear it. I just can’t.’”
When urged to evict the tenant, Levendaki reportedly agreed—but never followed through. “I told her, ‘You must get him out,’” the landlady said. “‘He can’t throw you out—you’re the owner. You get him out.’ I wouldn’t have tolerated it either.”
Levendaki’s attachment to the house ran deep. Though she also rented out a studio apartment, she reserved the word “villa” exclusively for this property—never referring to it simply as “the house.” Her emotional connection was evident from the moment she first entered the landlady’s home: she paused, took a deep breath, and murmured, “Wow—what a lovely atmosphere here.”