Suzanne Eaton – Run Over and Raped During Trip

Chania, Scene of Horror: The Brutal Murder that Shocked the Scientific Conference

Chania, the second largest city in Greece and often considered the most beautiful in the country, surpassing even Athens, hosted one of the largest scientific conferences on biology in 2019. Among its distinguished participants was Dr. Suzanne Eaton, a renowned 59-year-old American scientist and professor, a leading figure in the field of molecular biology.

Suzanne was one of the leaders at the acclaimed Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, based in Dresden, Germany. At this institute, she conducted various research projects on the functioning and development of cells that shape the tissues of various insects.

Beyond her brilliance in science, Suzanne always emphasized that her greatest achievements were her two children, the result of a happy marriage to fellow scientist and Max Planck director, Anthony Hyman.

In addition to her intelligence, Suzanne was also an accomplished pianist and enjoyed practicing Taekwondo in her free time.

The conference in Chania took place in July 2019. The weather was pleasant in Greece, and Suzanne, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, decided to go for a run in the late afternoon.

July 2, 2019, marked the last time she was seen alive. As she was one of the event’s speakers, her absence was quickly noticed. Initially, authorities believed she might have had an accident during her exercise, considering Chania’s reputation as a very safe city.

The Mystery Unveiled: The Macabre Discovery of Suzanne Eaton’s Body

However, almost a week later, on July 8, about 10km away from the conference venue, in a cave that would later be revealed as a possible shelter used by Nazis during World War II, the scientist’s lifeless body was found by two local residents, 60 meters from the entrance.

In the early stages of the investigation, authorities found evidence suggesting that her death was caused by strangulation, but the victim’s body also showed signs of stabbing.

From YouTube Channel to Life Imprisonment: The Shocking Confession of Yiannis Paraskakis

In the following days, Greek authorities identified a suspect. His name was Yiannis Paraskakis, a 27-year-old local, father of two children, and the son of a priest.

After over 6 hours of interrogation, Yiannis confessed to murdering Suzanne, claiming it was “motivated by sexual satisfaction,” in his own words.

Yiannis was relatively known in the country due to his YouTube channel, which he had at the time (now deleted), focusing on showcasing his adventures in the region with friends, exploring the area, and hunting animals.

In one of his videos, he visited the Nazi shelter hidden in the woods. During the footage, he and his friends filmed the entire place, and the presence of some bones was noticeable. One of his friends even asked Yiannis if those bones belonged to an old person. This raised suspicions at the time of the video posting, but the bones were never found, presumably removed by Yiannis after the video was released.

Beyond the Trial: New Charges Against Suzanne Eaton’s Killer

The young murderer was not a complete stranger to the police, as there were two charges of attempted vehicular assault against him, but no formal proceedings resulted from them.

However, this was the method Yiannis used to approach Suzanne. He confessed to hitting the scientist twice with his car while she was running, then placing her unconscious body in the car and taking her to the location where he raped her and left her to die.

Afterward, the killer covered the entrance of the shelter with some boards and went to a nearby cemetery to clean the car. It was precisely this movement that led authorities to his name.

On October 13, 2020, Yiannis Paraskakis stood trial in Greece. During the hearing, the young man pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of Suzanne Eaton, as well as illegal possession of a firearm. However, he claimed to be under the influence of a “demonic possession” during his terrible actions.

Yiannis was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, this might not be the last time he faces the courts, as after his arrest, five other women filed complaints against him, alleging they were also victims of attempted vehicular assault by Yiannis.

Unfortunately, this case proves that terrible things can happen even in the most beautiful places in the world and to anyone. Human cruelty can truly reach anyone, at any time, anywhere.