Australian police charged a man with murdering a pregnant woman and her partner in a targeted attack.
The victims, found in Melbourne, were reportedly known to the suspect, who was arrested hours later.
Australian police have charged a 34-year-old man with the murders of a pregnant woman and her partner in what investigators describe as a “targeted” and “disturbing” attack in Melbourne’s Mount Waverley suburb.
The victims, identified as 39-year-old Athena Georgopoulos, believed to be five months pregnant, and 50-year-old Andrew Gunn, were found dead in their home on Monday evening. Local media reports allege Gunn was decapitated, with his head mounted on a spike inside the property.
Police responded to the address at around 9:20 p.m. after reports of shouting. A second call to emergency services minutes later suggested a more urgent situation, prompting officers to arrive quickly at the scene. Graffiti messages, including “enough is enough,” “karma has no menu,” and “betrayal, unpredictable, inevitable,” were found scrawled on the walls, and investigators are probing whether they are linked to the killings.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas confirmed that the suspect was known to the victims and had no fixed address. “It appears to be a targeted attack,” he said, adding that an altercation may have occurred before the fatal incident.
Family members expressed their grief, describing Athena as a devoted daughter and soon-to-be mother who was excited about her pregnancy. “She never thought she could have a baby. She’s going to be very sadly missed,” her aunt, Patty Dilveridis, told the Brisbane Times.
Athena had been the primary caregiver for her mother, who suffers from health problems, and was remembered as someone who “was always very happy to look after her mum without fail.”
The suspect was arrested at Westall railway station, about six kilometres from the crime scene, at 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12. He faces two counts of murder and is expected to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Forensic teams remain at the property as investigations continue into one of Melbourne’s most shocking recent homicides.
