11-month-old daughter ‘was found hitting her murdered British mother to try and wake her up’ after burglary in Greece

A rare £260,000 reward for information has been announced by the Greek Government
Caroline Crouch and her husband Charalambos Anagnostopoulos
Caroline Crouch and her husband Charalambos Anagnostopoulos
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The 11-month-old daughter of a murdered British woman was “hitting” her to try and wake her up when police found them in their Athens house, according to reports.

Police stormed the home of Caroline Crouch, 20, and Charalambos Anagnostopoulos, 32, on Tuesday after reports were made that a gang of thieves were breaking into their property.

Ms Crouch, a student who was born in Greece but held a British passport, was found dead, tied up and strangled, while her husband was handcuffed and gagged.

Although their baby was unharmed, police said she sat next to her mother’s body “hitting her mother with her hands and trying to wake her up,” Greek news site Tanea reported.

Caroline Crouch and her husband Charalambos Anagnostopoulos
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The hooded intruders also ransacked the property for cash and jewellery and killed the couple’s dog which was discovered hanging on the garden fence, police said.

The burglars escaped with cash and jewellery while Mr Anagnostopoulos called police after managing to loosen his bonds.

Officers are still investigating the incident and working to track down 300 known gang members who have been released from jail in the last three years, Tanea reported.

Extensive DNA testing is being carried out on the victims’ clothes as well as items used to bind the couple.

A rare £260,000 reward for information has also been announced by the Greek Government in order to encourage possible witnesses to come forward.

Mr Anagnostopoulos, a helicopter pilot, gave his own account of the “nightmare” earlier this week.

Speaking to broadcasters, Mr Anagnostopoulos said: “I wish no-one ever goes through what we went through last night. It was a nightmare.

“We begged the thieves not to harm us. We told them where the money was and asked them to leave us alone. The police will catch them,” he added.

In an emotional tribute to his wife, he told the Evening Standard: “She was the kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with.”

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