Authorities in Larissa are unravelling a serious case of child abuse involving two young children and their mother. The 32-year-old mother from Larisa brought her two children, a six-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy, to the General Hospital of Larisa last Saturday, as the girl was experiencing health problems.

During the medical examination, doctors discovered multiple injuries on the six-year-old girl’s body that resembled cigarette burns. Upon further inspection, similar marks were found on the five-year-old boy as well.

The mother was arrested and is expected to face judicial proceedings, while the two children are currently being treated in the paediatric ward of the hospital.

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Update (20/05): Cypriot mother arrested

Shock and outrage have erupted over the systematic abuse of two children in Larissa. Hospital examinations revealed that the children bore cigarette burn marks on their bodies.

The countdown to revealing the nightmare experienced by the six-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother began last Saturday (17/05/2025). The 32-year-old mother took her daughter to Larissa Hospital due to a persistent cough. During the examination, doctors discovered several burns on the six-year-old’s body caused by cigarettes.

The same findings were observed on the five-year-old boy. According to the coroner, the marks were both older and some more recent.

The findings indicate that the two young children were systematically abused, and police are working to uncover all the details surrounding these horrific acts.

The children’s mother was arrested for domestic violence and child endangerment, while the two children are still hospitalised in the paediatric ward.

A troubled past…

Reports indicate that the mother is a 32-year-old Cypriot woman who had separated from the children’s father due to repeated abuse. Initially, she lived in shelters before recently moving to a village in Larissa.

Authorities are also investigating the possibility that the 50-year-old father may have been involved in the children’s abuse. The 32-year-old mother is expected to appear before the prosecutor tomorrow to testify.

In voice messages sent to a friend while at the General Hospital of Larissa with her children, she said: “We shouldn’t have come because they saw the wounds on the children and I’m afraid they’ll file complaints and call social services and things like that. We shouldn’t have brought the children; I’m afraid of such things- I don’t trust anyone.”

A friend of the 32-year-old also spoke to STAR, saying, “I had seen the marks,” adding that when she asked her about them, the mother responded, “They scratch themselves; I used to do that when I was young too.”

The father of the two children also spoke to the channel, saying, “If I find out they’ve been abused, I’ll take them back. She’s dangerous.” He also claimed that the 32-year-old has another child in Cyprus, for whom she lost custody some time ago.

Update (20/05):

New information has emerged regarding the 32-year-old woman of Cypriot origin who was arrested in Larissa after her two children were found with cigarette burns on their bodies.

The lawyer representing the children’s father, Kostas Galanos, revealed that the woman had previously lost parental custody of another child in Cyprus. That child, now believed to be 8 or 9 years old, was reportedly taken to Paphos General Hospital in the past with signs of starvation.

According to Galanos, the 32-year-old and the father of the two abused children have been separated for the past 4–5 years. He added that the father hasn’t seen his children for six months.

“Whenever he tried to visit them in Larissa, the mother would disappear,” Galanos said. “She avoided showing him the children, although there was communication.”

When asked whether his client had ever been convicted of domestic violence, the lawyer responded that while the woman had filed a complaint, no court ruling was ever issued, as she refused to appear in court to support her claims.

Galanos further claimed the 32-year-old does not smoke, suggesting instead that “when cigarette butts and burn marks are found, it’s more likely someone else put them out on the children, and the mother allowed it and didn’t care.”

From his side, the father described the situation as monstrous, saying:

“She was utterly indifferent. She didn’t cook, she didn’t care. I don’t believe she did this herself- but I suspect she’s involved with people who aren’t human.”

He added that he had very limited time to speak with the children, as they were often pulled away during his visits:

“The kids didn’t say anything to me. The minutes we had to talk were short, and she would pull them away.”

“Two minors cannot be left with monsters- or the monster. I’m afraid she’s mixed up with some very dangerous people.”