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A 32-year-old woman accused of abusing her two young children has been remanded in custody after delivering a lengthy statement to a prosecutor in Larissa.
Shocking details have surfaced from the testimony of a doctor at Larissa General Hospital, who described the injuries discovered on the children, ages 5 and 6, as signs of prolonged abuse.
According to a report obtained by Protothema.gr, the doctor provided a detailed account of how hospital staff identified the abuse.
The case began unfolding on the afternoon of Saturday, May 17, when the mother brought her children to the hospital, reportedly due to a cough and breathing issues in the younger child.
Medical staff soon observed injuries on the young girl that raised serious concerns.
“During the examination, we noted extensive skin lesions on both upper and lower limbs,” the doctor testified. “Some were ulcerated, with active abrasions, while others were healing or had formed scabs. The distribution and nature of the wounds suggested both recent and older injuries.”
The doctor said the mother claimed the lesions were caused by intense itching and that she had been unable to seek medical care due to financial hardship. She described herself as a divorced and abused woman who had previously stayed in a shelter and now lived in a home provided to her in the Terpsithea area of Larissa. The mother also mentioned having neurological health issues and being unemployed.
"We found burns and marker drawings"
After examining the girl, doctors decided to assess the boy as well.
“We found similar lesions on his arms, face, particularly the right cheek, legs, buttocks, and the back of his neck,” the doctor said. “Upon fully undressing the child, we discovered dark-colored marker drawings on his buttocks, penis, and toes. When we asked the mother about this, she said, ‘He draws on himself.’ I expressed disbelief, especially about how a child could draw so uniformly on his genitals and buttocks.”
The doctor added that the mother remained present and cooperative during the examination, showing no hesitation. However, she noted that both children displayed delayed development and had difficulty with speech and communication.
In a follow-up conversation, the mother told the doctor that her ex-husband had abducted her and the children three years earlier and recently threatened her during a video call.
“She said the father had demanded to see the children over video, and when she refused, he threatened to kill her,” the doctor said. “She also claimed that in a previous incident, he used force to take her and the children to Livadia, supposedly to give her child support, which he never did. I asked if the father had ever hit the children, and she firmly denied it.”
"Giannis did it"
While the mother spoke to police, the doctor said she had separate conversations with the children, during which they referenced someone named "Giannis."
“I asked the girl if her father hits her. She became serious and nodded. I asked again, and she confirmed it. When I asked about her mother, she nodded again. The boy, however, said no,” the doctor said. “When I asked the girl about the marks on her arm, she indicated that they were from someone putting out a cigarette.”
The boy reportedly identified “Giannis” as the person who had hurt him.
“That raised questions about whether they were referring to their biological father or someone else they viewed as a father figure,” the doctor said. “When I asked the mother about Giannis, she became visibly agitated and said he was a man from the village who helps around the house. Her behavior suggested she was hiding something.”
The doctor also noted that when she asked the children if they were hungry, they said yes. The mother overheard but did not respond. The doctor bought them food and observed no signs of scratching during their stay, contradicting the mother’s claim that the injuries were due to itching.
Mother blames ex-husband for injuries
In her statement to authorities, the mother provided a different version of events, accusing her ex-husband of attacking the children on May 10.
She claimed he visited her home while the children were present and became violent after using drugs.
“He started threatening me, saying he’d kill me if I didn’t let him see the children,” she told investigators. “Then he began beating me in front of them. My daughter cried, and my son tried to defend me. He burned my son on the cheek with a lit cigarette and kept hitting all three of us. He burned my daughter’s hands, my son’s hands and neck, and my right arm.”
The mother said the attack lasted about 20 minutes and claimed none of the neighbors heard their screams.
The investigation is ongoing.
*With information from Protothema.gr.
