Police have accused a man of a suspected double murder after a pregnant woman and her partner were discovered deceased in Melbourne, where the expectant father’s head was reportedly severed and placed on a spike.
Athena Georgopoulos, aged 39, was allegedly killed along with her 50-year-old companion, Andrew Gunn, at their residence in Mount Waverley, situated in Melbourne’s south-east, shortly before 10 pm on Monday evening.
Heavily armed police swarmed the Adrienne Crescent property at 9.55pm after a neighbour heard screams and called triple-0.
Within the modest unit, officers allegedly uncovered Mr. Gunn’s mutilated body next to Ms. Georgopoulos’ corpse. The individuals are yet to undergo formal identification.
A homeless man, aged 34, accompanied by two large dogs, was apprehended just hours later at Westall train station, about 6 km from the crime location, around 1:40 am on Tuesday. He now faces charges of two murder counts.
He will appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Police allege the accused was known to the couple, and that one of the victims lived in the unit.
Ms Georgopoulos was five months pregnant when she died.
Athena Georgopoulos, 39, was allegedly killed alongside her 50-year-old partner Andrew Gunn at their Mount Waverley home
A homeless man, 34, (pictured during his arrest) will appear in court on Wednesday
Ms Georgopolous and Mr Gunn (pictured together) had been in a relationship
The alleged motive remains unclear.
The relatives of the couple have been notified, and autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday. Authorities are continuing to determine the accused man’s relationship with the alleged victims.
Investigators have stated they are not looking for anyone else in connection to the slayings and have confirmed a weapon was used in the alleged murder, though it was not a gun.
The street remains cordoned off as homicide detectives comb the scene for evidence.
Investigators are also examining whether graffiti scrawled outside the property, including the phrases ‘U R Gay,’ ‘Enough is Enough,’ ‘Betrayal,’ and ‘Karma’ – is linked to the horror inside.
The messages were sprayed in luminous yellow-green and black paint on the home’s fence and exterior walls.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Homicide Squad said police received several calls regarding the incident at the address prior to the grim discovery.
‘Police were called at about 9.20pm in relation to a welfare check at the address based on some yelling that was heard from the property,’ he said.
‘A second call was then made that suggested it was perhaps more urgent than the first call and police arrived minutes later, and obviously they found the male and female inside the premises deceased.’
Ms Georgopoulos was found dead on Monday night
Sinister graffiti was also found scrawled outside the Mount Waverley unit where the couple were allegedly murdered, as homicide detectives scoured the scene on Tuesday
Det Insp Thomas said forensic crews and investigators would be at the scene for most of the day, and counselling was being offered to those living in neighbouring units.
One neighbour said he did not know the people at the house and had never heard of any trouble or police attending the unit prior to last night.
‘It’s a quiet area,’ the man said.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed investigators were probing the graffiti.
‘Police are aware of graffiti on the property in Mount Waverley where the bodies of two people were located last night,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Homicide Squad detectives will work to determine if the graffiti is relevant to the murder investigation.’
Det Insp Thomas said heavily armed specialist officers, assisted by the police helicopter, tracked the arrested man to the station, where he was taken into custody.
‘The person that we took into custody was in the company of two large dogs, I think that would look fairly obvious to people who may have been in the area,’ he added.
