Law enforcement officials in Greece apprehend five individuals in connection to the homicide of a University of California, Berkeley professor, among whom is his former spouse.
In a shocking turn of events, Greek police have arrested five individuals in connection with the murder of Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a professor at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. The 54-year-old academic was fatally shot multiple times in broad daylight on July 4, 2025, near his ex-wife's home in Athens, Greece, during a visitation with his children.
The arrested individuals include Jeziorski's ex-wife, Konstantina Michelidaki (or Nadia Michelidaki, according to some reports), her current partner, two Albanian nationals, and one Bulgarian national. According to Greek authorities, the murder is suspected to be a contract killing.
Jeziorski's ex-wife, a key suspect, has been charged as a moral accomplice, indicating authorities believe she played a role in enabling the crime. However, her lawyer maintains she was not involved, despite multiple suspects having confessed. The couple had recently finalized a contentious divorce and were embroiled in a bitter custody battle, with Jeziorski seeking a domestic violence restraining order against his ex-wife and her new partner in May 2025, alleging abusive behavior.
The primary perpetrator, Jeziorski's ex-wife's current partner, reportedly confessed to carrying out the killing, shooting Jeziorski multiple times at close range. He is charged with premeditated murder.
Three additional men—two Albanian nationals (one a minor) and one Bulgarian national—have also been arrested on accomplice charges, though specific details of their roles are not yet public. All four male suspects, including the boyfriend, have reportedly confessed to their involvement, according to Greek police.
The shooting occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. in a residential suburb of Athens, and seven bullet casings from a 9mm caliber firearm were found at the scene. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a masked man in black approach the victim on foot and open fire. One eyewitness reported hearing about six shots and seeing the perpetrator run from the scene.
UC Berkeley mourns the loss of Jeziorski, who had a passion for teaching during his 13 years there. He taught data analytics skills to over 1,500 graduate and PhD students. The dean of UC Berkeley’s business school, Jenny Chatman, described Jeziorski as a beloved member of the marketing faculty.
Jeziorski's family started a fundraiser to repatriate his remains to Poland and pay for legal representation in Greece. The shooting location was near the home of Jeziorski's ex-wife in Agia Paraskevi. This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN reached out to Jeziorski's ex-wife for comment, but she has not responded. A senior police source mentioned that all scenarios, including close family members, are being examined in the case. Greek national broadcaster ERT reported that the arrested individuals are expected to testify in front of a prosecutor on Thursday morning.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the escalating tensions that can arise from personal disputes, and the potential for violence that can result. Our thoughts are with Jeziorski's family, friends, and students during this difficult time.
The investigation into Przemyslaw Jeziorski's murder, a UC Berkeley professor, has expanded to include war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice, as multiple suspects, including his ex-wife, her current partner, and several accomplices, have been arrested and charged in connection with the crime. The incident has also been covered extensively in general-news outlets, providing a stark reminder of the consequences of personal disputes escalating into violence.
