Fugitive Convicted of Murder Caught in Limassol After Escape

A man sentenced to life imprisonment for a double murder has been recaptured by Cyprus police after escaping custody. The fugitive, Theodoros Theophanous, was arrested in Limassol after a kiosk owner recognized him when he stopped to buy groceries.

According to the police, Theophanous was apprehended on Sunday at around 5:30 PM in the Ayios Tychonas area of Limassol. After receiving a tip-off from a local resident, police sealed off the area where the fugitive was spotted and managed to detain him.

The 42-year-old convict had been on the run since Thursday. The search for him involved helicopters, drones, and police dogs.

In response to the escape, police established crisis centers at their headquarters and central stations in Limassol and Paphos, coordinated by the chief of police.

It is believed that during his time on the run, Theophanous was hiding in an apartment in Limassol with a group of foreigners.

Initially, police warned that the escaped prisoner might be armed and dangerous. However, when he was arrested, no suspicious items or weapons were found on him. He is expected to appear before the Paphos District Court today, where a remand order will be issued as investigations into his escape continue.

To recap, in 2011, Theodoros Theophanous was sentenced by the Permanent Criminal Court to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Yulia Oporoka, who was four months pregnant at the time. He was also given an additional 35-year sentence for the involuntary manslaughter of her three-year-old daughter, Victoria.

Last Thursday, Theophanous had been granted permission to visit his family's home in a village in the Paphos region, under the supervision of four prison guards and police officers. Despite this, he managed to escape.

It was initially reported that three individuals, including the fugitive’s 68-year-old father, were arrested in connection with his escape. However, local media later reported that they were released.

The police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape.