MELBOURNE, Australia (BN24) — A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a pregnant woman and her partner in what police describe as a targeted attack in Mount Waverley, a suburb of Melbourne.
The victims, identified as Athena Georgopoulos, 39, who was believed to be five months pregnant, and Andrew Gunn, 50, were found dead inside their home on Monday evening. Local media reports allege Gunn had been decapitated and his head placed on a spike.
Police were called to the couple’s home around 9:20 p.m. following reports of shouting. Minutes later, officers discovered the bodies. Graffiti messages reading “enough is enough,” “karma has no menu,” and “betrayal, unpredictable, inevitable” were found scrawled on the walls. Investigators are examining whether the messages are connected to the killings.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said a second emergency call suggested the situation was more urgent than initially believed. “It appears to be a targeted attack. Our suspect is known to the address,” he said, adding that the accused may have no fixed address.
Family members expressed shock and grief. Athena’s aunt, Patty Dilveridis, told the Brisbane Times her niece had been “so looking forward” to having a baby. “She was 39 and she never thought she could have one. She’s going to be very sadly missed,” she said.
Relatives said Athena was also the primary carer for her mother, who suffers from health problems. “She was always very happy to look after her mum without fail,” a family member said.
The suspect was arrested at Westall railway station, about 6 kilometers from the crime scene, at approximately 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12. He has been charged with two counts of murder and is expected to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Police believe the victims knew their attacker and that an altercation may have occurred before the fatal incident. Forensic teams remained at the property on Tuesday as investigations continued.
