Greek funeral director in Melbourne accused of stealing jewellery, clothing from dead woman

·

A Greek funeral director in Melbourne is under police investigation, accused of stealing gold jewellery and clothing from a dead woman, A Current Affair (ACA) has reported.

82-year-old Teresa Moraitis paid Peter Tziotzis of Orthodox Funeral Services $10,200 for a traditional Greek open-casket service for her daughter Helen in August this year.

Ms Moraitis wanted a full embalming of Helen’s body, and also asked for clothing, a gold chain with a stone heart, two bracelets and a diamond ring to be placed on her daughter.

The jewellery Ms Moraitis wanted on Helen’s body. Photo: ACA.

During the funeral service, Tziotzis is accused of telling the family the casket had to remain shut because the “coroner had put a lock on it.”

“I was screaming and crying,” Ms Moraitis told ACA. “I wanted to see my daughter and all my relatives wanted to see her to say goodbye.”

After months of agony, Ms Moraitis made the decision to exhume her daughter’s remains from the above ground mausoleum at the Lilydale Memorial Park.

According to ACA, three embalmers and an evidence-collecting film crew inspected the body and found Helen’s naked remains bundled in a blue body bag, her arm twisted behind her head. Thousands of dollars of gold jewellery and clothing was also missing.

82-year-old Teresa Moraitis. Photo: ACA.

When questioned about the issue, Tziotzis refused to explain why the jewellery and clothing were missing, and deferred questions to the coroner “because they’re the ones that took her into their care.”

Following the exhumation, Victoria Police detectives raided Tziotzis’ Wheelers Hill home and his funeral parlour in Oakleigh South, seizing what they allege was the missing clothing and jewellery.

Tziotzis was interviewed and released pending further investigation.

Funeral industry experts have said allegations in this case are not an industry norm, but they are proof urgent reform is needed.

Source: A Current Affair.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

National Greek Tourism Organisation to open office at The Greek Centre in Melbourne

National Greek Tourism Organisation has confirmed it will open office at The Greek Centre in Melbourne, Victoria.

70 years of rich history celebrated by the Athenian Association of NSW

The Athenian Association of NSW celebrated its milestone 70th anniversary at The Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands, Sydney on Saturday.

Greek minister claims NGOs to blame for arrival of undocumented Somali migrants

Notis Mitarakis pointed the finger at unnamed nongovernmental organisations for facilitating the illegal crossing of dozens of undocumented Somali migrants from Turkey into Greece.