Greek police have taken an American man into custody on the island of Skiathos, suspected of involvement in the deaths of an infant and her mother who were both found in a park in Rome. The detainment is tied to a European arrest warrant that Italian authorities issued, citing substantial evidence pointing towards the man’s involvement in the tragic events, according to chief Rome prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi.
Currently, Italian investigators are working to determine the cause of the mother’s death. Deputy prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini mentioned there’s a strong suspicion that it may be linked to a double murder. The woman and her baby, believed to be Americans, were discovered in Rome’s Villa Pamphili park over the weekend. The infant was found several hundred meters away from her mother, who appeared to have died days earlier. The victims were found without clothing or any form of identification.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect in the company of a woman and a baby before fleeing to Skiathos. He reportedly left Italy for Greece on Wednesday and is set to be formally arrested after the European warrant is confirmed by Greek officials. His extradition hearing is scheduled for next week.
The prosecutor pointed out that the suspect’s decision to leave Italy without seeking help for the deceased raises red flags. Despite the apparent family dynamic captured by surveillance and eyewitness accounts, interactions were reportedly observed, including an altercation on the streets which facilitated the identification of the suspect. Evidence such as fingerprints and trace elements linked to shelters for disadvantaged individuals were integral to locating him.
Authorities were able to pinpoint his location thanks to his cell phone usage, culminating in his apprehension on Greek soil. The mother, reportedly around 30 years old, bore a notable tattoo of a skeleton on a surfboard, which has helped narrow down her identity. This case continues to unfold as investigators piece together the tragic story.