Police investigate death of officer found in service vehicle in Athens

Authorities in Athens are investigating the death of a 37-year-old police officer discovered in his service vehicle in the Agios Dimitrios area late Monday evening. The circumstances surrounding the death have prompted a thorough inquiry, despite initial indications pointing towards natural causes.

The officer was found deceased inside his patrol car, which was located on an isolated road in the Pikrodaphni stream area. The vehicle was locked from the inside, with the officer seated in the front passenger seat. Preliminary assessments by a medical examiner suggest the officer had been deceased for at least 10 to 12 hours before being discovered by colleagues.

Initial medical findings noted pulmonary edema and oxygen deprivation, but these are not conclusive for determining the exact cause of death. Comprehensive forensic and toxicology examinations are underway to shed light on the incident. Investigators are scrutinizing the officer's recent activities, including his mobile phone communications, and examining surveillance footage from the vicinity to ascertain if he was alone when he parked the vehicle.

Adding to the complexity of the investigation are minor abrasions found on the officer's hands and neck, and an open bottle of gin found inside the car with a significant amount consumed. The officer's mobile phone remained active, aiding authorities in locating the vehicle. The officer was also a semi-professional footballer. His partner, also a police officer, reported him missing and stated he had no known health issues and that they had not argued prior to his disappearance. She assumed he was on duty, as his work often required overnight absences.

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It is an incident that has shocked us all. He was found late last night, near midnight, in the Agios Dimitrios area, dead in a service vehicle.