Shock and grief struck the Mount Waverley community in Melbourne after the discovery of the bodies of 39-year-old Athena Georgopoulos, a pregnant Greek-Australian woman in her fifth month, and her partner Andrew Gunn, aged 50.
Their lifeless bodies were found late Monday night, around 9:55 p.m., inside a unit on Adrienne Crescent by their neighbour Ben Scott-Sandvik, who spoke with visible distress about the horrific scene he encountered.
“No one should ever have to witness what I saw down there,” Mr. Scott-Sandvik said, struggling to find words. “No one should live with the knowledge that this kind of tragedy has happened to their families.”
The neighbour described the alleged perpetrator—a 34-year-old homeless man with mental health issues—as another victim of a broken social system. “You don’t prevent this kind of thing by harsher punishment. People like him need help,” he stressed.
Athena’s mother, Petty Georgopoulos, shared a heartbreaking tribute on social media in Greek, mourning the loss of her daughter and the unborn grandchild who was eagerly awaited. “My love, you left this life so quickly, and I still can’t believe how happy you were in the last days,” she wrote.
Friends of Athena also expressed their devastation and sorrow over the loss of a woman who brought joy and smiles into their lives. One friend wrote, “Rest in peace, sweet soul. Thank you for every smile and every laugh. You were part of what made LUMO such a fun place to work. You deserved so much better.”
The police maintain a heavy presence around the crime scene, with forensic teams continuing their investigation. Local residents grapple with the stark reality of the tragedy that has deeply affected their community.
