Investigations indicated an American citizen as the alleged suspect of the murder, which led to public indignation in Italy. The body of the alleged mother of the young child was also found in the park last week, but the cause of her death has not yet been officially ascertained.

The Italian State Police, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rome, managed to trace the suspect travelling to the Greek island of Skiathos last Thursday. In close cooperation with their Italian counterparts, the Greek police were able to apprehend him the following day.

The rapid issuance and timely execution of an EAW were essential to detain the American citizen. This was arranged through close and immediate cooperation between the Italian and Greek National Desks at the Agency, after the national authorities had requested their assistance.

The suspect is currently still in detention in Greece, as he did not consent to a surrender to Italy. The Council of the Court of Appeals of Larissa will decide in the coming days on the procedure regarding his surrender to Italy.

The investigations and actions on the ground were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

• Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO), Rome; State Police, Rome (Mobile Squad and Central Operations Service); SIRENE Bureau of Italy
• Greece: PPO Court of Appeals, Larissa; PPO Court of First Instance, Volos; Police Department, Skiathos; SIRENE Bureau of Greece