Amaliada: Mystery surrounds the deaths of four infants – What “the smile of the child” says about the woman linked to the deaths

The case involving the deaths of four infants in Amaliada is unfolding like a thriller, following reports linking a 24-year-old woman to all four tragic incidents. Two of the babies were her own, while the other two belonged to her friends.

The first of the 24-year-old’s children, a 19-day-old baby girl, died on June 19, 2022. Her second child, a two-month-old baby girl, died on October 17, 2023. On August 5, 2024, the 15-month-old son of the woman’s best friend, with whom she was living, also died. The fourth case involves another friend’s baby who passed away in 2021.

Following an urgent preliminary investigation ordered by the Head of the Patras Appeals Prosecutor’s Office, Nikolaos Nikolaou, “The Smile of the Child” issued a statement about the information they had received about the 24-year-old woman.

According to the organization, “It was clear that the 24-year-old was in a vulnerable family environment from her childhood and received support in her role as a young mother.”

The organization’s statement includes the following details:

• Regarding the case in the Achaia region, “The Smile of the Child” had received anonymous reports on the National SOS Hotline 1056 between 2017 and 2020, describing the living conditions of the mother’s family and clearly indicating her vulnerable situation.
• As per protocol, the relevant police and prosecutorial authorities were immediately notified to initiate all necessary procedures to protect the children. One of the reports was marked as “Urgent.”
• In August 2015, the organization received a call on the European Missing Children Hotline 116000 from the local Security Department about the disappearance of the then-underage mother. However, before the case was made public, the teenager returned home.
• In December 2020, a family member visited “The Smile of the Child” and confided in them. The local police followed the orders of the prosecutor and took the appropriate actions.
• In 2023, the mother contacted the organization’s Health Department for guidance on procedures concerning her baby, who was hospitalized in an Athens hospital. Days later, the organization was informed that the baby had passed away. During the same period, the area’s Social Services, which were involved in the case, communicated with the organization, expressing concern that a year earlier, her first baby had died under similar circumstances. Since then, the police and prosecutor’s office have been investigating the deaths of both of her children.

The latest allegation involving the 24-year-old

Katerina, the mother of the fourth infant, spoke to MEGA, describing how she lost her six-month-old daughter on February 4, 2021. “As a mother, I lost my child while in Irini’s care, and I will investigate it,” she said.

According to Katerina, the young woman has been a witness to four child deaths in just three years. “How is this possible? Can all four be coincidences? As a mother, I have to ask, why?” she wondered.

She described the events of February 4, 2021, when she went for a walk and left her six-month-old daughter with the young woman to look after. “Irini and I were friends, godmothers. I asked her to take care of my daughter while I went for a walk with my partner,” she explained. Katerina added that she had fed and changed the baby before leaving and also gave her some medicine for a health issue.

“Someone, who I don’t want to name, called and informed me that the baby ‘passed away,’ and that Irini had told them. My partner immediately called Irini and asked, ‘Tell me what happened to the baby,’ and she replied, ‘Nothing, darling, the baby is fine.’ But the baby was dead…” Katerina recounted.

The cause of death of the six-month-old girl

According to MEGA, doctors at the Karamandanio Hospital told Katerina that her baby had arrived at the hospital already deceased, contradicting what the young woman allegedly claimed.

“Irini said the baby made some noise, and she immediately called an ambulance, but the baby was already dead. She said the baby couldn’t breathe… The same thing happened with the other three children—her own and this one in Amaliada,” Katerina explained.

“The first autopsy report listed the cause of death as undetermined. Later, Irini lost her other two children,” Katerina added.

“You have it all mixed up,” says the 24-year-old

The newspaper Patris visited Amaliada, where the 24-year-old lives with the mother of the child who died in August 2024. The young woman stated, “The results for my children have come out. We are waiting for the rest because the prosecutor has taken over.” When asked about the death of her friend’s child, she responded heatedly, “…leave little Panagiotakis alone because you have it all mixed up. Go ask the child’s father if you want answers.”

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