October 11, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

The “king of trash cans” has died in Kato Patisia


In the Athens district of Kato Patisia found dead in his own apartment 75 year old manwhom the Greek press has already dubbed “king of trash cans”.

According to media reports, he was the owner of the entire four-story apartment building, received rental income, but at the same time led an extremely secluded lifestyle and collected old things, books, equipment and items from the street.

According to Newsbombthe body of a man was found in the penthouse of a building in Kato-Patisii after neighbors called police due to a strong odor that had been wafting through the house for days. Arriving employees Ελληνική Αστυνομία (Greek police, ΕΛ.ΑΣ.) I had to open the apartment to get inside.

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According to Greek publications, the body was in a state of severe decomposition among a large amount of garbage and old things. Due to the condition of the room and the high temperature, specialists had to work in protective equipment. At this stage, as the media note, access to the apartment is extremely difficult, and a full inspection of the space is possible only after the trash is removed.

Lonely home owner

A 75-year-old man referred to by his initials in the Greek media P.S.lived alone, had no family of his own and, according to neighbors, had almost no relationships with relatives or friends. At the same time, he allegedly owned the entire four-story apartment building and received rental income.

Books, old appliances and various things gradually accumulated in the house, which the man, according to area residents, brought from the street. The stairs and entrance to the building were partially filled with stacks of books and old equipment. Because of this, relations between the owner and residents, judging by the publications, have long become tense.

One of the neighbors, an electrician, told the publication Espressothat he considered the man an ordinary pensioner and did not know that he collected things on the streets at night. According to him, he did not even suspect that the entire apartment building belonged to him. Here’s the urban reality: a person lives nearby for years, says hello, gets rent, and at night turns into a “treasure” hunter near trash cans. Athens has a knack for hiding strange destinies right next door.

Police are looking for relatives

According to Aftodioikisithe police are now looking for relatives of the deceased, presumably Dodecanese. Greek media also report that the man could have a bank account, and investigators do not rule out that money or valuables could be stored in the apartment or in the building’s hiding places.

However, at the moment this remains only a version that has yet to be verified. The apartment is sealed, and access to it is difficult due to the sanitary condition of the premises and the huge amount of things. Further inspection may require a truck to remove the accumulated trash, according to media reports.

The cause of death has not yet been established

The official cause of death of the 75-year-old has not yet been announced. Due to the condition of the body, the forensic medical examination, according to Greek publications, has limited ability to draw immediate conclusions. Police are reviewing the circumstances of the death and awaiting further investigation results.

There is no data yet that would allow us to speak confidently about the crime. But the picture itself – a lonely elderly man, a closed apartment, a strong smell, trash, possible valuables and the absence of loved ones nearby – makes the case not only an everyday tragedy, but also a police story with many questions.

Editorial comment

Story from Kato-Patisii looks like a gloomy urban parable: a man owned a house, received an income, could be considered wealthy, but died alone among the things he had been dragging into his apartment for years. Money, real estate and possible hiding places did not save him from the main thing – complete human isolation.

In such stories, the press easily grabs the shortcut “Croesus the ragpicker” or “king of trash cans”. But behind this label, most likely, lies not only an oddity of character, but loneliness, hoarding, age, possibly a mental disorder and a complete lack of social support. The city sees the smell, the garbage and the scandal. He often notices a person too late.

The police will now look for relatives, possible valuables and the circumstances of the death. But the main question is broader: how many of these people live in Athens behind closed doors, formally “not poor”, but in fact left alone – until the neighbors call the police because of the smell.



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