GUILTY Greece - Dr. Suzanne Eaton, 60, American, gone for a run, Crete, 2 Jul 2019 *ARREST* #2

[CityDancer]

This guy has all the markings of a serial killer in the making. If the Cyprus serial killer received several life sentences, hopefully this guy does too. Out of curiosity, has there ever been someone like this who has successfully been rehabilitated?

That's a very interesting question and the answer appears to be "yes". Spiros Beskos was (is, he's still alive) a Greek serial killer who killed in the early 80's. He was a family man, very well-respected in society and an extremely successful physiotherapist. He killed mostly prostitutes that he would pick up and get into his car late at night, but he also attacked random women. You can Google-translate and read about him here: Σπύρος Μπέσκος - Βικιπαίδεια here Σπύρος Μπέσκος, ο δράκος με τα μαγικά χέρια and here Σπύρος Μπέσκος, ο "δράκος με το Οτομπιάνκι". Επιβίβαζε γυναίκες στο αυτοκίνητό του και τις βίαζε αφού τις έπνιγε με σκοινί. Η μεταμέλεια και η νέα ζωή ως φυσικοθεραπευτής - ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ

He was arrested in 1983 and given "2 life sentences plus 40 years in prison" which practically translates to a maximum of 25 years in prison according to Greek law (whether at the time or still holds, I'm not sure, but that's what Wikipedia states). What is interesting in his case is that he became an exemplary prisoner, much like he'd been a (seemingly) exemplary citizen prior to his arrest. He was so good at healing other prisoners and even prison staff from their orthopedic injuries, that he was allowed to set up a small "clinic" inside the prison, where he would treat people and heal them from very serious health problems. Chillingly, given the fact that his preferred method of killing was by strangulation, he was reported by many to possess "magic hands". He never caused any trouble while in prison and was finally let out in 2008, just two months short of his expected release date, after many petitions for parole had previously been refused. Since then he's been back at practicing physiotherapy, has re-married and is not known to have offended again. The Greek Yellow Pages list his private practice: https://www.xo.gr/profile/profile-906003127/el/

ETA: He appears to have fully repented and has repeatedly asked for forgiveness from his victim's families.

 

[glassheater]

That's a very interesting question and the answer appears to be "yes". Spiros Beskos was (is, he's still alive) a Greek serial killer who killed in the early 80's. He was a family man, very well-respected in society and an extremely successful physiotherapist. He killed mostly prostitutes that he would pick up and get into his car late at night, but he also attacked random women. You can Google-translate and read about him here: Σπύρος Μπέσκος - Βικιπαίδεια here Σπύρος Μπέσκος, ο δράκος με τα μαγικά χέρια and here Σπύρος Μπέσκος, ο "δράκος με το Οτομπιάνκι". Επιβίβαζε γυναίκες στο αυτοκίνητό του και τις βίαζε αφού τις έπνιγε με σκοινί. Η μεταμέλεια και η νέα ζωή ως φυσικοθεραπευτής - ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ

He was arrested in 1983 and given "2 life sentences plus 40 years in prison" which practically translates to a maximum of 25 years in prison according to Greek law (whether at the time or still holds, I'm not sure, but that's what Wikipedia states). What is interesting in his case is that he became an exemplary prisoner, much like he'd been a (seemingly) exemplary citizen prior to his arrest. He was so good at healing other prisoners and even prison staff from their orthopedic injuries, that he was allowed to set up a small "clinic" inside the prison, where he would treat people and heal them from very serious health problems. Chillingly, given the fact that his preferred method of killing was by strangulation, he was reported by many to possess "magic hands". He never caused any trouble while in prison and was finally let out in 2008, just two months short of his expected release date, after many petitions for parole had previously been refused. Since then he's been back at practicing physiotherapy, has re-married and is not known to have offended again. The Greek Yellow Pages list his private practice: https://www.xo.gr/profile/profile-906003127/el/

ETA: He appears to have fully repented and has repeatedly asked for forgiveness from his victim's families.

Well that is hopeful. What do European prisons do differently than US prisons? I thought US prisons also offered programs. ETA: I googled. Looks like prisoners receive more mental health services and more autonomy.

 

[Gardenista]

This guy has all the markings of a serial killer in the making. If the Cyprus serial killer received several life sentences, hopefully this guy does too. Out of curiosity, has there ever been someone like this who has successfully been rehabilitated?

How could they every know if someone was rehabilitated? Maybe they re-offended and were never caught.

 

[CityDancer]

Well that is hopeful. What do European prisons do differently than US prisons? I thought US prisons also offered programs. ETA: I googled. Looks like prisoners receive more mental health services and more autonomy.

Well, I'm not sure how many other SKs have reformed but it's true that European legislation is more (I was about to say lenient but the right word here, obviously from my own personal perspective, would be "humane"). There is no DP and most prisoners are, usually, able to be released at some point if it can be proven that they have reformed and are not a risk to society. This has its advantages and its disadvantages. The DP alone is a huge topic, I won't get into it, and I'm also far from being an expert on mental health programs in prisons.

Another well-known Greek SK, Kyriakos Papachronis (Ο "δράκος" Κυριάκος Παπαχρόνης. Βίαζε και σκότωνε γυναίκες επειδή τον ερέθιζε ο ήχος των τακουνιών. Είπε ότι ήθελε να τις εκδικηθεί επειδή μια πόρνη τον αποκάλεσε ανίκανο στην εφηβεία. Τα ερωτικά γράμματα από τις "θαυμάστριες" - ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ) was released after 22 years in prison and seems to have reformed though not as "spectacularly" as Beskos.

From Wikipedia (Kyriakos Papachronis - Wikipedia):

While working as a cadet officer in the army, [Papachronis] killed 3 prostitutes and attempted to rape 5 more in the city of Drama in northern Greece from 1981 to 1982. The surviving victims' testimonies led to his capture on December 13, 1982 He was initially court-martialed and sentenced to two life sentences, but it was later reduced to life imprisonment. In the early days of his imprisonment he was particularly undisciplined and violent but by the late 1990s he turned into an exemplary prisoner. 22 years later, in 2004, he was released from prison.[1] Papachronis now lives peacefully in Larissa, undisturbed by authorities.[2]

 

[CityDancer]

How could they every know if someone was rehabilitated? Maybe they re-offended and were never caught.

True!

 

[Handsome Sailor]

Otto mentioned it is the European way to institutionalize these heinous offenders for the remainder of their natural lives, where they slowly go mad. The case of Ian Brady in UK comes to mind. I should think a death sentence would be preferable.

 

[glassheater]

Well, I'm not sure how many other SKs have reformed but it's true that European legislation is more (I was about to say lenient but the right word here, obviously from my own personal perspective, would be "humane"). There is no DP and most prisoners are, usually, able to be released at some point if it can be proven that they have reformed and are not a risk to society. This has its advantages and its disadvantages. The DP alone is a huge topic, I won't get into it, and I'm also far from being an expert on mental health programs in prisons.

Another well-known Greek SK, Kyriakos Papachronis (Ο "δράκος" Κυριάκος Παπαχρόνης. Βίαζε και σκότωνε γυναίκες επειδή τον ερέθιζε ο ήχος των τακουνιών. Είπε ότι ήθελε να τις εκδικηθεί επειδή μια πόρνη τον αποκάλεσε ανίκανο στην εφηβεία. Τα ερωτικά γράμματα από τις "θαυμάστριες" - ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ) was released after 22 years in prison and seems to have reformed though not as "spectacularly" as Beskos.

From Wikipedia (Kyriakos Papachronis - Wikipedia):

While working as a cadet officer in the army, [Papachronis] killed 3 prostitutes and attempted to rape 5 more in the city of Drama in northern Greece from 1981 to 1982. The surviving victims' testimonies led to his capture on December 13, 1982 He was initially court-martialed and sentenced to two life sentences, but it was later reduced to life imprisonment. In the early days of his imprisonment he was particularly undisciplined and violent but by the late 1990s he turned into an exemplary prisoner. 22 years later, in 2004, he was released from prison.[1] Papachronis now lives peacefully in Larissa, undisturbed by authorities.[2]

Ugh. Well there’s one common link - . He served 22 years and got out in his 40’s. So it’s hopeful he’s been living peacefully but it just seems unfair too that he gets to live his life after taking others. I can’t imagine being stabbed in the cervix.

 

[glassheater]

My own 'gut' feeling is that the "cave explorers" were propelled neither by Facebook nor curiosity of caves. Rather, their midnight romp was of a strange and stealthy sexual nature, perhaps with some keif thrown in. They were overpowered by the stench.

That could also be true. Since most people live at home until they are married, olive groves have become popular errrrrrr, romp places.

ETA: in this case I think they were both male and friends since childhood. Not sure there was romance involved.

 

[Patrick Jane]

Op-ed in a Greek newspaper regarding this case.

Suzanne Eaton’s beautiful logic, Nikos Konstandaras | Kathimerini

Excerpt:

The people of Crete are devastated, but there needs to be a serious reckoning. The obsession with a great past, with a legacy of rebels’ disregard for authority, has encouraged a culture of individual lawlessness in dissonance with the limits necessary to a modern society. Instead of being reinforced through debate and imposition of the law, limits on behavior are stretched to accommodate all kinds of narcissistic extravagance: only when society has clear limits can we see the threats to it. Random, terrible crimes are committed everywhere and they cannot always be prevented. As rational beings we can recognize this. Crete, though, with its specific traditions needs to acknowledge its problems and fix itself.

 

[glassheater]

Op-ed in a Greek newspaper regarding this case.

Suzanne Eaton’s beautiful logic, Nikos Konstandaras | Kathimerini

Excerpt:

The people of Crete are devastated, but there needs to be a serious reckoning. The obsession with a great past, with a legacy of rebels’ disregard for authority, has encouraged a culture of individual lawlessness in dissonance with the limits necessary to a modern society. Instead of being reinforced through debate and imposition of the law, limits on behavior are stretched to accommodate all kinds of narcissistic extravagance: only when society has clear limits can we see the threats to it. Random, terrible crimes are committed everywhere and they cannot always be prevented. As rational beings we can recognize this. Crete, though, with its specific traditions needs to acknowledge its problems and fix itself.

I’ve always heard about Crete’s reputation but wasn’t sure if it was a product of island rivalry. Thanks for this article.

 

[Handsome Sailor]

I have no truck with Crete. Rather enjoyed my 2-week winter sojourn in Chania. Some cozy warm cafes downtown during a cold winter. Explored the Minotaur labyrinth. And the snow covered mountains were a charm. Let the Greeks be Greeks!

 

[otto]

Otto mentioned it is the European way to institutionalize these heinous offenders for the remainder of their natural lives, where they slowly go mad. The case of Ian Brady in UK comes to mind. I should think a death sentence would be preferable.

Not the European way, but how dangerous offenders are managed in countries that do not have capital punishment. Someone who commits one murder is not a dangerous offender.

 

[Handsome Sailor]

A Pole. A Lithuanian. And now, an American from Germany. All temporary visitors from the North. Why?

 

[jtinx]

I have read over 20 articles on this murder, while she was still missing, reports on the body once they found her, and after the confession. The police, coroners office and different news agencies give many conflicting reports. First they said she just had bruises that probably came from when the suspect tried to immobilize her. No other signs of violent trauma.
Another said her ear was cut off. Another that she had something stuffed into her mouth and nose. One saying that she had defensive knife wounds on her arms, so at some point she must have fought back. They also said that her body was so decomposed they could barely identify her, they had to use dental records. Then after he confesses they say she had broken ribs, facial bones, and cuts. That they found the suspect's DNA under her nails. But I see no scratches or bruising on him. How that scrawny flip flop wearing guy took out a black belt by himself and dragged her over 200 feet into those WWII bunkers is unbelievable. Also one report said that the people who found the body were just random cave explorers, but another said they were part of the search and rescue effort.. I watched the interview someone posted, of the people who found her,but I did not see a translation? Why didn't they show their faces?
I also can't believe there is no CCTV footage of Suzanne leaving the hotel--walking or jogging. And who goes off in a foreign country with no cell phone, or ID on them. None of it makes sense. This is no impulsive teenager. She was a brilliant scientist getting ready to present at a conference. They never mention what the topic of her speech was either. I'd love to see that.

 

[jtinx]

My impression is that, prior to the arrest, news was reporting local gossip rather than formal police information. At this time, based on reports after the confession, Suzanne was walking, not jogging, she was never in Afrata, no one saw her near a church or a roadside memorial, she was not at the little bridge, she was not playing the piano at 3PM.

Instead, she went for a walk after lunch to a memorial that is one mile North of the Orthodox Academy. That is where she was attacked and raped, severely injured, put into the trunk of his car and later dropped into the bunker.

"Paraskakis told authorities that he abducted Eaton — “motivated by sexual satisfaction,” Crete Police Maj. Eleni Papathanasiou said in a Tuesday news conference — at about noon that day as she walked toward a monument called the Evelpidon in the north of the island."​

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...ice-say/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1809d98f25b9

The article says he abducted her near the Evelpidon monument, but is says he then took her to he bomb shelter where he raped her, and dumped her body.

 

[jtinx]

I agree. Quoted coroner and senior police officer statements are reliable, and the rest is sensationalism.

I found that interesting too: two separate complaints were made regarding a similar car running women off the road, yet the complaints were dismissed. One could be a mistake, but two? Police dropped the ball here. Given his criminal history, CCTV of his vehicle near the bunker and her injuries, he must have been their first suspect in her disappearance.

Prolonged brutality was one of the details released prior to the arrest and we did read that she died approximately 2 hours after her last meal. I suppose that information was accurate. That is consistent with her injuries and disappearance at noon.

I remember reading a statement from his family at the time of arrest, where they said they didn't realize that one of their family had ... what was it ... something like "fallen from the clouds." It was such an odd statement, but my understanding was that they were claiming that this completely out of the blue, that they had no idea he was so sick and twisted. Knowing his prior criminal history, I think his family and many other must have known that it was just a matter of time until he killed women.

His known prior criminal history also make him a perfect gun or car for hire. Everything he says seems like a canned, prompted, rehearsed confession. He keeps throwing in a motive, that he raped her. When one of the reports said she still had her clothes on, there were no obvious signs of trauma other than bruising. And her body is so decomposed I don't think there will be any evidence to back up the rape. He keeps repeating that he ran her over twice, like he is trying to defend his botched murder for hire. I guess whoever hired him forgot to tell him she was an athlete, and a black belt in TKD.

 

[jtinx]

again from that same ERT article:

Ο δράστης, οι ενδεχόμενες άλλες επιθέσεις, ο φόβος, η σιωπή... - ert.gr

Ακόμα και σήμερα, άνθρωποι που γνωρίζουν, διστάζουν να μιλήσουν, αφού είναι βέβαιοι ότι ο δράστης θα «πέσει στα μαλακά» και ότι θα βρεθεί πίσω στον κοινό μικρόκοσμο, με ότι αυτό συνεπάγεται.

And even today, people who know (things about the perp), they are hesitant to talk, since they are sure that the perpetrator will "get off lightly" and that he'll be back in the small community with all that that entails/means.

(my translation only)

They said his father was a very important, influential man in the community. That's probably why he got away with so many prior assaults and cruel behavior.

 

[indicolite22]

They said his father was a very important, influential man in the community. That's probably why he got away with so many prior assaults and cruel behavior.

I don't think he was even identified as a suspect in previous attempts of this type (hitting a female runner with his car).

 

[Patrick Jane]

I watched the interview someone posted, of the people who found her,but I did not see a translation? Why didn't they show their faces?

SBM

If this perp is back on the streets in ten or so years (due to the lenient court system), would you want a confessed murderer psychopath to know you were the one that botched his clever plan to hide the body? That had it not been for your intervention he would likely have never been caught?

MOO

 

[Patrick Jane]

And who goes off in a foreign country with no cell phone, or ID on them.

There was a report that she took her phone with her the day before, but there was no signal, so presumably she didn't take it with her for that reason.
I find this plausible as mobile phone reception is spotty here, especially by the water and in remote locations (she was by the water and on a remote road).

MOO

They never mention what the topic of her speech was either. I'd love to see that.

The conference was on insect hormones. Hardly conspiracy theory material.
Refer to Thread #1.