Authorities are investigating eight inmate deaths over 65 days at Agios Stefanos prison in Patra, raising questions about conditions inside the facility.
The deaths began April 2, when a 31-year-old inmate was found dead in his cell. By the end of April, three more prisoners, aged 38, 58 and 46, had died. Additional deaths followed in May and June, including a prisoner who died after hospital transfer and inmates aged 53, 44 and 72. Authorities have not confirmed an additional death reported in local media.
Officials have ruled out criminal activity, while prosecutors have ordered a swift investigation. Toxicology results from samples sent to the University of Ioannina are pending.
A judicial source described the situation as “multi-factorial,” saying it could not yet be considered coincidental, while a forensic official said the pattern remains unexplained.
Possible causes under review include underlying medical conditions and drug use inside the prison. Staff conduct daily searches for narcotics, and police recently arrested 13 inmates for possession of tablets, cannabis, heroin and a synthetic cannabinoid known as “Boom.”
