A pregnant woman found dead at a home in Melbourne’s east on Monday night has been identified as 39-year-old Athena Georgopoulos.
Police discovered her body inside a unit on Adrienne Crescent, Mount Waverley, at about 9.55pm. She was found alongside her partner, a 50-year-old man, who had been decapitated.
The property was the man’s home. Police confirmed that the next of kin for both victims have been notified.
According to The Herald Sun, Ms Georgopoulos was five months pregnant at the time of her death. The newspaper also reported that the male victim’s head had been removed and placed on a spike.
A 34-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning at Westall train station in Clayton South. He had two large dogs with him, was barefoot, and had blood on his shirt. Police believe he is known to the victims and have described the incident as targeted.
Graffiti was visible on the exterior of the Mount Waverley property, with messages reading “Karma is not a menu” and “meat is murder,” alongside other phrases such as “betrayal, unpredictable, inevitable.” Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the graffiti is connected to the killings.
“Homicide Squad detectives will work to determine if the graffiti is relevant to the murder investigation,” a police spokesperson said, via News.com.au.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from Melbourne’s homicide squad said police were first called to the address at around 9.20AM on Monday following reports of yelling coming from the property. A second call described the situation as more urgent, prompting officers to arrive within minutes and discover the bodies inside.
“We believe there is a link between our suspect and the address,” Inspector Thomas said, adding that the man in custody may have no fixed place of residence.
The crime scene remained heavily guarded on Tuesday, with forensic officers moving between the property and police vehicles as part of their examination. At one point, a woman believed to be the one of the victims' mother ran through police tape.
Police are now appealing for witnesses and anyone who saw suspicious activity near Adrienne Crescent, Ferntree Gully Road, or Westall railway station to come forward. They are also urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to assist in the investigation.
No charges have yet been laid against the man in custody.