Crete: Forensic examination reveals Stavroula Leventaki's torturous death - Video footage exposed the 43-year-old suspect

Forensic findings have revealed the horrific details of Stavroula Leventaki's death, describing it as a "martyr's death." The 45-year-old woman was found bound with zip ties on her hands and feet and gagged with electrical tape wrapped multiple times.

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The delayed reporting of the disappearance, due to the hospitalization of the 45-year-old's brother, allowed the perpetrator to erase traces and cover his movements.

Her body was discovered in a field five kilometers from the house rented by her alleged killer, a 43-year-old Macedonian man. The body was not significantly decomposed and showed two stab wounds to the chest. The man, who worked as a builder and technician in the local community, confessed to the murder and directed authorities to the site where he buried her body. He had purchased the plot six years prior and recently used a container on it as a storage space.

Leventaki had been missing since May 30 from Varypetro, Chania. Her brother reported her disappearance, prompting an investigation that initially focused on the wider area and interviews with specific individuals. Greek Police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou stated that officers suspected foul play from the outset, despite a lack of initial evidence. The delay in reporting her disappearance, due to her brother's hospitalization, allowed the perpetrator time to cover his tracks.

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The investigation progressed methodically and discreetly, with officers conducting house searches and requesting assistance from a special team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations from Athens.

Dimoglidou highlighted the methodical and discreet nature of the investigation, which included house searches and assistance from a forensic team from Athens. Crucial laboratory findings identified Leventaki's blood traces in both the suspect's home and vehicle, confirming the police's suspicions. The suspect eventually realized confession was his only option as evidence mounted. Surveillance footage from the day of her disappearance, showing Leventaki entering the house but not leaving, was recovered after the suspect deleted it, further solidifying the case against him.

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The perpetrator was given the necessary time to make mistakes and for more evidence to be gathered.