Body of retired teacher found in Mystras hotel freezer; son arrested for collecting pension

Discovery

On Tuesday, 4 August 2026, police in Mystras, Laconia, searched a closed hotel and found the body of an elderly man in a basement freezer. The body was wrapped entirely in nylon, without clothes or shoes, and the professional freezer was still operating. Wooden planks from a bed had been placed on the lid to add weight and prevent it from being opened. Officers also seized an air pistol and two gas ampoules during the search.

The deceased was a retired teacher, originally from Arcadia, born in 1936. Neighbours told authorities they had not seen him for four to five years. His death had never been declared to the Kynouria municipal registry.

The suspect and motive

The man's 55-year-old son was arrested at the scene. He is suspected of concealing his father's death to continue collecting his pension. According to police, the son claimed his father died of natural causes two to two and a half years ago and that he kept the body in the freezer ever since. Investigators are also examining whether he collected the pension of his mother, who died seven years ago and whose beneficiary was the father.

Investigation

Police launched an inquiry after receiving a complaint. They discovered the death had never been registered. When first questioned, the son falsely stated that his father lived in an apartment in Kaisariani and received home care. Officers located the man's daughter, who said their father had insisted on staying in Mystras since 2001. The son had forbidden anyone from entering the hotel courtyard, a behaviour that had raised suspicions among locals.

What happens next

The 55-year-old was taken into custody and will be brought before a prosecutor. A forensic examination will determine the exact cause and time of death. The investigation remains open as authorities await the autopsy results.