NEW YORK – The Greek community in the United States and in Tilos was shocked by the brutal murder of 29-year-old Greek-American Irene Spantopanagos, who has roots on the Dodecanese island.

According to the local media, the tragedy unfolded on March 12 in the Massapequa, ​​Long Island, where the unfortunate woman, an only child, lived with her 17-month-old daughter Alessia.

A video from a security camera next door has been circulating on social media in which the voices and cries for help of the 29-year-old are heard, at the time of the attack by her 34-year-old ex-husband, identified as Vincent Maiolica. In the same video, the voice of a 22-year-old woman is also heard, who was also injured by the alleged perpetrator, according to the media which noted that she had a relationship with Maiolica, following the end of his marriage with the unfortunate Spantopanagos.

Neighbors who heard the two women calling for help, alerted the police, who arrived in minutes together with EMTs and found all three covered in blood.

According to the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) investigators, the tragic event was a murder-suicide that left Spantopanagos dead and the 22-year-old woman and Maiolica both initially in critical condition. Maiolica later succumbed to his self-inflicted injuries as the NCPD said he was pronounced dead on March 14, Daily Voice reported on March 16. The 22-year-old is still hospitalized, fighting for her life. The motive for the murder-suicide is not yet known.

A GoFundMe page was organized by Areti Vlachos and her family for expenses and the immediate care of Irene’s daughter Alessia. Vlachos noted on the page: “Irene’s pure heart and personality touched all who were fortunate enough to know her. Thank you for the love and support you have shown to our family during this horrific time. We appreciate all the love and support that has been given to us. Please pray for all of Irene’s family and friends and especially for her baby girl.”

More information is available online: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-irene-spantopanagos.