Unsolved Mystery Case of ‘Sheikh Su’s Dragon’ and the Lingering Questions about Pagratides’

The story of Aristides Pagratidis, known as the “Dragon of Sheikh Shu,” is a landmark case in Greek history, captivating the authorities for years and still raising doubts about his guilt and potential victimization in a politically tinged conspiracy. Let’s delve into this strange crime thriller, about which countless pages have been written in newspapers and books, including novels.

This case is among the crimes detailed in the book “100 Crimes in Greece,” which was recently released with THEMA on Sunday.

The saga begins in February 1958 when a young woman is found dead, her head smashed with a rock. The assailant escapes, but whispers spread about a sinister figure lurking in the Sheikh Sou forest. A year later, a student from Saint Paul’s school discovers the brutally beaten bodies of Athanasios Panagiotou and Eleonora Vlachogianni, who are in a relationship. Vlachogianni had been raped, but both survived the attack despite severe injuries.

In March 1959, in Mikra, the bodies of 39-year-old Major Konstantinos Raisis and 23-year-old Eudoxia Paliogianni were found. Paliogianni had attempted to flee, and the perpetrator had also robbed them. Previous attacks in March 1957 and February 1958, as well as unsuccessful assaults on two couples in October 1958, led to growing certainty about the “Dragon of Sheikh Shu,” despite varying testimonies.

On April 3, 1959, an unknown assailant killed trainee nurse Melpomeni Patrikiou at the Municipal Hospital of Thessaloniki by striking her head with a stone. He attempts to rape nurse Fani Tsambazi, but she resists, causing him to flee. Thessaloniki is gripped by terror, with shops closing early and women hurrying home, as newspapers report the fear of another attack by the “Dragon.”

The Police offer a large reward for information leading to the perpetrator’s capture. Witnesses describe a man around 25 years old, who not only raped but also attempted to kill his victims by beating them with stones. Thessaloniki remains in fear until December 8, 1963, when the “Megas Alexander” hospital is invaded late at night. An unknown man gags and assaults a 12-year-old girl, who manages to alert others, leading to his identification.

The next morning, the Police present 20-year-old Aristides Pagratidis as the “Dragon of Sheikh Su.” Pagratidis, born in 1940 to a poor family in Toumba, had lost his father to the EAM and grew up in hardship, resorting to selling himself for money and smoking hashish. In his defense, he claimed, “I used to sell my body for 10 drachmas to eat. I was selling my blood to the Red Cross to get some money. I’m not a criminal.” Initially, Pagratidis denies all accusations, but after five days of intense interrogation, he confesses on December 11, 1963, and is taken to Gendi Kule.

In October 1964, he was convicted of assaulting a 12-year-old girl and sentenced to 9 years in prison with a fine. The high-profile trial for the “Dragon” crimes began in February 1966, but the victims do not recognize Pagratidis, and the trial is notably brief.

Pagratidis refused to apologize for his alleged crimes. The prosecutor recommended a life sentence, a surprising suggestion given the severity of the offenses and the fact that the death penalty was still in force at the time. Nevertheless, Pagratidis and four others were sentenced to death and imprisoned at Gendi Kule.

From the outset, there was a significant backlash, with many arguing that the case was hastily closed without sufficient evidence. Critics believed Pagratidis was scapegoated by the police, serving as a convenient target for the ERE government to deflect public outrage over the murder of Lambrakis.

Despite doubts about whether the then 17-year-old Pagratidis could have committed the crimes, and despite others coming forward as possible culprits, he was executed by firing squad at Eptapyrgio Prison on February 16, 1968. Witnesses, including two journalists, reported that Pagratidis cried out, “My sweet mother, I am innocent,” moments before his execution.

The Pagratidis case has gripped Greek public opinion for decades, with many viewing it as an unjust conviction of an innocent man. Numerous books, novels, a play, and a television series have explored his story. Journalist Kostas Tsarouhas’s extensive research, published in a 1989 book, revealed that Major Kostas Antoniou had admitted before his death that they had been ordered to ensure Pagratidis was found guilty.

In January 2022, journalist Eva Nikolaidou claimed in the “Newspaper of the Editors” that Thessaloniki police had arrested another suspect, Sereslis, who confessed to all the crimes attributed to Pagratidis. Sereslis reportedly said, “Sit down and I’ll tell you what they charged Pagratidis with.” Despite this confession, orders were given to suppress Sereslis’s testimony and proceed with Pagratidis’s execution.

Aristos Pagratidis remains an enigma, and his case, despite his execution over half a century ago, continues to be debated as many still believe it was a miscarriage of justice.

Notable Murders from “100 Crimes in Greece”

Ilia, 1960: Giannis, who killed his unfaithful wife with seven stabs
Zakynthos, 1958: The 19-year-old “pharmacist” who murdered her father and brother at her grandfather’s urging
Mani, 1957: A five-fold massacre that “cleansed the family’s shame” and divided Greece
Crete, 1955: The Vorizia massacre
Athens, 1953: The “Dragon of Vouliagmeni” and the psychic who led to his capture
Thessaloniki, 1948: The Polk Affair, a political thriller during the civil war
Heraklion, 1945-1947: The lynching of Cretan collaborators
Athens, 1936: The “Dragon of Kalogreza” who raped, tortured, and killed small children
Athens, 1931: The crime in Harokopou that inspired a popular song
Athens, 1923: The murder of Giannakis Kalomoiris, son of the famous Greek musician
Kythira, 1909: A cobbler’s murderous rampage that left 15 dead
Athens, 1929: The “Rocambol” gang, the Greek Bonnie and Clyde, who were siblings and lovers
Mani, 1920: The crime of the century that nearly led to a vendetta
Piraeus, 1906: The massacre between Cretans and Maniates
Delesi Massacre, 1870: The Arvanitaki gang and Greece’s international involvement