The 39-year-old who killed and tortured stray animals in a series in Volos is in court

The case has sparked a wave of reactions from animal rights organizations and citizens, who are calling for the harshest possible punishment for the perpetrator. At the same time, his psychiatric condition is at the center of the proceedings, as he claims to suffer from a serious mental disorder, which could lead to his confinement in a psychiatric clinic instead of his imprisonment.

The police began investigating the case in mid-2024, when dozens of dead and mutilated animals began to be found in various areas of the city. According to the case file, the accused carried out extreme actions, with the most characteristic cases including: Cat mutilations in Nea Ionia, with at least five animals found dead, bearing horrific injuries. A dog that was burned alive near the Chiliadou area, after being doused with flammable liquid. Stray dogs strangled in a forest area of ​​Agria. A dog that was stabbed in cold blood in front of witnesses in a city park.

The investigation and arrest
After complaints from citizens and surveillance, the police managed to locate the perpetrator. The following played a crucial role: the videotapes showing him attacking strays. The testimonies of residents who saw him abusing animals. The findings in his home, such as knives with traces of blood, flammable materials and tranquilizers. A chilling diary, where he recorded his actions in detail. After his arrest, the 39-year-old was brought before the authorities, where he was charged with serious charges. His statement before the investigator contained shocking information.

In his statement, the 39-year-old denies most of the charges, while claiming that he suffers from a serious mental disorder that makes him incapable of being held accountable. In the memorandum he submitted to the investigator, he describes a history of chronic mental disorders and drug addiction, which began in his adulthood. He states that he experienced symptoms of anxiety, phobias and hallucinations during his studies at the TEI of Serres, as a result of which he began using cannabis in an attempt to self-medicate.

He then describes that he has been hospitalized in psychiatric clinics and has participated in addiction recovery programs, but he has constantly relapsed. He states that he has no memory of the heinous acts attributed to him, while insisting that his psychiatric history should be taken into account by the court.

The psychiatric expert opinion
According to the report of the Psychiatric Clinic of the Volos General Hospital, the subject has a history of psychotic episodes and disturbed behavior, while he is characterized by intense suspiciousness and outbursts of aggression.

The evaluation, which took place on January 9, 2020, was drawn up following a prosecutor's order for involuntary hospitalization, as the subject had demonstrated dangerous behavior both towards himself and towards his environment. During the clinical assessment, he presented with delusions, hallucinations, and an inability to control his impulses.

According to the psychiatric report, the defendant had a history of cannabis use from a young age, with periods of excessive consumption accompanied by psychotic episodes. The experts note that he displays antisocial characteristics, reduced empathy, and indifference to the consequences of his actions.

Although he did not develop an acute psychotic episode during his hospitalization, he did present with obsessive ideas and elements of delusional thinking. The psychiatrists point out that the individual's dangerousness cannot be ruled out, recommending continued psychiatric monitoring, as well as submitting him to a specialized psychometric evaluation to determine his current mental state.

Lawyers Anthoula Anasoglou and Triantafyllos Emmanouilidis, representing the Panhellenic Union Against Animal Cruelty, state: “This is a heinous case of a serial killer, which causes not only horror and indignation, but also unbearable pain. The mere thought that defenseless stray animals, friendly to humans—as most of them were cared for by neighbors—were tortured to death to satisfy the sadistic urges of a man who only wanted to sow terror and death, is shocking. If any of them tried to save themselves, running for their lives, the accused did not hesitate to pursue them to finish them off. Initially, he denied everything, but later, when he was recognized by his own his parents, he was forced under the pressure of events to confess, claiming that he suffers from a serious psychiatric problem. This is a late claim, which arose when he realized the weight of the crimes he is facing and the size of the sentence that awaits him. He did not convince anyone and was taken to prison. The civil lawsuit of the Panhellenic Association against Animal Cruelty, chaired by Martha Poultidou, will be present, as the voice of the innocent souls who were slaughtered.