logo
Neighbour relives the gruesome scene he found at the house of horror where a pregnant woman was allegedly murdered and her lover decapitated and his head left on a spike

Neighbour relives the gruesome scene he found at the house of horror where a pregnant woman was allegedly murdered and her lover decapitated and his head left on a spike

Daily Mail​4 days ago
A neighbour has told of the gruesome scene he discovered when he entered the Melbourne house of horror where a pregnant woman was allegedly murdered and her partner's decapitated head left on a spike.
'No one should have to come across what I saw down there,' said Ben Scott-Sandvik, who lives at the front unit in Mount Waverley block where the alleged double-murders took place.
'And nobody needs to live knowing that this sort of thing has happened to their families.'
Mr Scott-Sandvik spoke to the Herald Sun after the accused killer Ross Judd, 34, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Judd smiled and winked as he faced court charged with murdering pregnant woman Athena Georgopoulos, 39, and decapitating her partner Andrew Gunn, 50, before putting the father-to-be's head on a spike.
The homeless accused killer winked after he tripped as he came into the dock but then smiled throughout the brief filing hearing over the two counts of murder.
The prosecution asked the court for a ten-week extension because 'it's a complex crime scene with significant amounts of DNA evidence'.
The prosecutor also said autopsies were expected to be delayed, as alleged murder victim Athena Georgopoulos, 39, was five months pregnant when she died.
Daily Mail can reveal Ms Georgopoulos was set to face a plea hearing at Ringwood Magistrates' Court on September 1 for car theft and burglary charges.
The alleged killer's legal aid lawyer did not oppose the unusually lengthy period to serve the brief, but told the court it was her client's first time in custody.
Judd also faces charges regarding previous allegations of making threats, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The lawyer also said Judd needed to see the custody nurse for 'follow-up medication and physical health issues'.
Ms Georgopoulos was allegedly killed alongside Mr Gunn in what police believe was a targeted attack at their Mount Waverley home, in Melbourne's south-east.
On Wednesday, her mother Petty Georgopoulos paid tribute to her daughter in a heartbreaking post on social media.
'My little heart, you left life so unfairly that I still cannot believe it,' she said in the touching Facebook post.
'In recent days you were so happy - we made dreams together for our little granddaughter that you were going to bring into your life.
'And suddenly, everything was erased in one night, when an [alleged] murderer cut the thread of your life and of my little granddaughter's life that you were going to bring into the world in four months.
'No matter how much they separated us, I will never stop loving you. Forever. Until we meet again, my little girl, in the light of the angels.'
She and Mr Gunn were found dead after police received calls from neighbours on Monday night about yelling coming from the property, and heavily armed police swarmed the Adrienne Crescent home at 9.55pm.
Inside the small unit, officers allegedly found Mr Gunn's mutilated body next to the body of Ms Georgopoulos.
Judd was arrested with two large dogs just hours later at nearby Westall Railway Station, about 6km from the crime scene, at around 1.40am on Tuesday.
Police allege Judd was known to the couple and that one of the victims lived in the unit, but they are still trying to establish the connection and alleged motive.
Ms Georgopoulos' aunt Patty Dilveridis said her niece was excited by the prospect of motherhood, and her mother Petty had recently met Mr Gunn's parents to celebrate their impending grandparenthood.
The dead woman worked as a customer service representative for several electricity and insurance companies, and had been Mr Gunn's partner for three years.
Ms Georgopoulos' cousin also posted a heartfelt tribute to the slain mum-to-be.
'My heart is completely broken,' the heartfelt post read.
'My dear cousin, you and your unborn baby were taken away too soon in the most devastating and senseless way. There are no words for this kind of pain - no way to understand why someone so full of life, love and promise could be taken away from us so violently.
'Rest in peace Athena, and your baby girl. We will never forget you. We will honour your memory and carry your love with us forever.
'May God grant your parents, brother, and your loved ones strength during this difficult time.'
Several of Ms Georgopoulos' friends also posted tributes to the mum-to-be.
'Rest in peace sweet soul. Thank you for every smile you brought to my face. Thank you for every laugh (of which there were many).
'You were part of what made LUMO so fun to work at. I can't imagine what you went through in the end. You deserved so much better. Love you girl. Fly high,' one friend posted.
Another wrote: 'Rest in peace Athena... what has this world come to? May you and your baby fly high. My condolences go out to your loved ones.'
Another friend posted: 'May you rest in peace Athena with your family... my sincerest sympathies are with your family and friends who will all feel the impact of your loss.'
Another wrote: 'R.I.P Tina I'm lost for words how the f*** can someone [allegedly] just kill someone?'
Investigators are examining if 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.'
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Three men arrested in murder probe after woman in her 20s is fatally assaulted near care home
Three men arrested in murder probe after woman in her 20s is fatally assaulted near care home

Daily Mail​

time23 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Three men arrested in murder probe after woman in her 20s is fatally assaulted near care home

Three men have been arrested in a murder probe after a woman in her twenties was fatally assaulted near a care home. The horrifying attack happened early on Saturday morning on Chadwell Heath Lane in the Chadwell Heath area of east London. Metropolitan Police officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were called at around 5.30am to reports of an assault. The emergency services worked to help her - but despite their best efforts, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, near the town of Romford. The brutal stabbing took place in a leafy residential area just outside the Chadwell House Residential Care Home, which provides residential, dementia and respite care. The Met has now said a 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and two men, aged 21 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. 'Early enquiries by detectives indicate this is an isolated incident and those involved are believed to be known to each other', the force added. A cordon is in place and a white evidence tent was erected in the driveway to the care home. Officers continue to appeal for information and witnesses. The woman has not yet been formally identified but it is believed she was in her twenties. A post-mortem will soon be carried out. The victim's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist family liaison officers. Pictures of the scene on Saturday showed parts of nearby park Little Heath cordoned off with police tape, with the tent up while police investigated. Officers in hazmat suits appeared to be examining a vehicle with large clear plastic bags of unknown items in them. Detective Superintendent Brian Hobbs said: 'Our thoughts remain with the victim's family and friends in light of this truly tragic event. 'Although we have now made arrests, local residents will continue to see an increased number of officers in and around the area while our investigative work is carried out. 'I would ask anyone who was in the area of Romford, who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, to speak to us.' Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the police via 101 quoting 1625/16Aug or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Report: The most dangerous cities in the US
Report: The most dangerous cities in the US

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Report: The most dangerous cities in the US

Advertisement The five most dangerous cities in the United States have been revealed, with a surprising Southern city named as number one. Memphis, Tennessee , has been ranked as America's most dangerous city in a report by US News and World Report, as its unemployment rate remains higher than average and household median incomes sit more than $26,000 below the national average. The report determined the city's danger levels based on 'each city's murder and property crime rates per 100,000 people' obtained through FBI crime reports. Memphis has a crime rate of 112.9 per one thousand residents in a typical year, according to Neighborhood Scout. The chances of becoming a victim of a crime in west Memphis neighborhoods is one in seven, and one in 40 in the southeast. The Memphis Police Department Chief C.J Davis said in a news conference in July that overall crime was down 20 percent year-to-date, WREG-TV reported. 'With six months left in 2025, I'm convinced we are on the right track,' Davis said at the time. FBI crime statistics have reported that violent crime has dropped nationwide over the last two years. Last year, it was reported to have fallen by 4.5 percent and property crime saw an 8.1 percent drop from the year before. Murder rates saw an 11.6 percent decrease in 2023, the largest single year drop on record, the FBI report stated. A recent poll, however, showed that 77 percent of Americans believe crime is on the rise. Following Memphis as the second most dangerous city is Oakland, California, which was recently called out by the president for its rampant crime. According to the City of Oakland, it has a crime rate of 135.68 per one thousand residents. Trump, while announcing the government's deployment of the National Guard to Washington DC, specifically named many major US cities for their criminal reputations. Oakland, according to Trump, is 'so far gone', yet the Oakland Police Department announced a 28 percent drop in crime in the first six months of 2025. In Oakland, police reported a double-digit decrease in reports of aggravated assaults, rapes and robberies, as well as fewer reports of certain property crimes, including a 46 percent decrease in auto thefts. According to the most recent data, the city saw 41 homicides this year compared to 54 last year, a 24 percent decrease. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee responded to the president with a blunt statement that said: 'President Trump is wrong.' Lee noted the city's falling crime rates and said Trump's remarks were 'not grounded in facts, but in fear mongering,' East Bay Times reported. 'This is not leadership - it's an attempt to score cheap political points by tearing down communities he doesn't understand,' Lee added. Officials fear that should Trump deploy the National Guard to the area, as he has announced for DC, that it would exacerbate already existing crime and incite protests across the state. Carl Chan, an Oakland Chinatown leader, told the East Bay Times that a takeover such as that would be 'disastrous' for the city. 'If they send the National Guard to take over, there will be tons of protests within the city,' Chan said. 'We don't want to go from one extreme to another.' Typically, the National Guard is used for extreme cases, such as natural disasters or in times of extreme protests or riots. Oakland officials have said the city's drop in crime is due to its violence-intervention strategy. Robberies saw a 41 percent decrease, reported burglaries were down 25 percent, and violent crime as a whole was down by 29 percent. 'Our work is far from done,' Lee said, the outlet reported. 'We're going to keep building on this progress with the same comprehensive approach that got us here.' The third most dangerous city ranked by the US News and World Report was St. Louis, Missouri. According to Neighborhood Scout, the city has a crime rate of 77.9 per one thousand residents. Earlier this year, the St Louis Police Department and Mayor Tishaura Jones also celebrated decreasing crime rates. From 2021 to 2024, murders fell from 202 to 150 and aggravated assaults decreased by 24 percent, property crime dropped by 11 percent and 'society' crimes such as drug violations decreased by 15 percent, the St. Louis Magazine reported. By March, the city saw a historic decrease in crime through January and February. The mayor's office said that the 2024 crime period was the fewest homicides in 11 years. St Louis saw a 36 percent decrease in burglaries, a 42 percent drop in auto thefts and a 53 percent decrease in shooting incidents, KMOV St. Louis reported. Jones said: 'One life affected by violent crime is one too many, which is why it is extremely encouraging to see the amount of violent crime continue to drastically drop in St. Louis. 'We have more work to do, but violent crime is on the retreat in St. Louis, and I am incredibly thankful to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Circuit Attorney's Office, the Office of Violence Prevention, and all the community organizations and residents who do so much to make St. Louis safer.' Police Chief Robert Tracy said homicides were down by 50 percent compared to the same time as last year, which more than 90 percent a result of gun violence. 'Too many people carrying firearms, poor conflict resolution skills and they're known to each other,' Tracy said. 'We continue the strategies to see what works and when it works we continue to do it. If it doesn't, finding out where it's going wrong and readjust. You have to do that with community engagement and technology. When you bring that together you start to see some of the success we're having.' The next spot was grabbed by Baltimore, Maryland, as the fourth most dangerous city in the United States. Baltimore, which also took a personal call out by the president over crime rates, has reportedly had a steady drop in homicide rates since 2021, falling from 344 to 200 last year. It has a crime rate of 58.77 per one thousand residents, Neighborhood Scout said. This year, the city has tracked only 84 killings so far, the Baltimore Banner reported. Baltimore, however, is also struggling economically. Its house values sit $159,823 below the national average of $370,489, according to the US News and World Report rankings. The job market has equally struggled with its unemployment rate matching the national average of 4.5 percent. The median household income, however, sits more than $21,000 below the national average of $79,466. Lastly, fifth place was taken by Detroit, Michigan, a city largely renowned for its crime and one that was also targeted by the president. According to Neighborhood Scout, the city has a 1 in 15 chance of becoming a victim of either a violent or property crime and a crime rate of 66.34 per one thousand

Chadwell Heath: Three arrested after death of woman in east London
Chadwell Heath: Three arrested after death of woman in east London

Sky News

timean hour ago

  • Sky News

Chadwell Heath: Three arrested after death of woman in east London

Police investigating the death of a woman in east London have arrested three men. A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, while two men, aged 21 and 22, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, the Metropolitan Police said on Sunday. Detectives opened a murder investigation after the death of the woman in Chadwell Heath early on Saturday morning. Police and the London Ambulance Service were called to reports that a woman had been assaulted in Chadwell Heath Lane at around 5.30am. "Despite the best efforts of emergency services, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene," the force said in a statement. She has not been formally identified, but officers believe the victim was in her 20s. The Metropolitan Police said their early enquiries suggested it was an isolated incident in which those involved knew each other. The woman's family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained family liaison officers. A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. Appealing for the public's help, Detective Superintendent Brian Hobbs said: "Our thoughts remain with the victim's family and friends in light of this truly tragic event. "Although we have now made arrests, local residents will continue to see an increased number of officers in and around the area while our investigative work is carried out."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store