A chilling murder case in Chania has taken a dramatic turn as the 43-year-old suspect confessed to staging a robbery to mislead investigators after killing 45-year-old Stavroula Leventaki at the end of May.
A Calculated Attempt to Obscure the Crime
According to court documents and his detailed eight-page confession, the suspect remained beside Leventaki’s body for hours after the killing—methodically planning how to erase evidence and steer suspicion away from himself. His goal was clear: make the homicide appear to be a robbery gone wrong.
ATM Withdrawals as Part of the Ruse
The suspect admitted taking Leventaki’s two bank cards—one of which had the PIN written on it—and withdrawing €1,000 from an ATM located at the Municipal Services Centre (KEP) in Mournies. He claimed he did so specifically to reinforce the robbery narrative and distance himself from the crime.
“I went to the ATM, entered the code—I knew it was correct—and withdrew €1,000. I didn’t check how much money was in her account. I did this because I wanted it to look like a robbery, so I wouldn’t be linked to her death,” he stated in his confession. He then returned home and left the cash and cards on the TV stand in the living room.
He also handed both cards to acquaintances, instructing them to continue making withdrawals—an effort, he said, to further support the illusion of an ongoing theft.
Cleaning Up and Concealing Evidence
In his confession, the suspect described in detail how he cleaned the crime scene: using sponges, bleach, buckets, mops, and repeatedly changing the water. He also used bleach and air freshener during the process.
He placed incriminating items—including the wooden club used to strike Leventaki’s head, shards from a broken bottle, the plastic bags she carried when she arrived at his home, and his own pants and shirt—into a black garbage bag.
Unresolved Questions Around the Victim’s Money
Leventaki had recently sold a plot of land and reportedly received nearly €30,000. Investigators found a bank deposit receipt for that amount inside her Chania residence, along with €12,850 hidden among unwashed clothing.
More than €14,000 was discovered in the suspect’s container—a sum whose origin remains under investigation.
Also missing is Leventaki’s notebook, where she reportedly kept personal notes. Her brother denies having taken it after the murder, and a close friend confirmed its absence during police interviews.