Latest news with #Jeziorski
7 hours ago
Slain UC Berkeley professor said in restraining order request ex-wife made him 'fearful' for his life
Months before Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a marketing professor from the University of California, Berkeley, was killed in Greece, he filed a request for a restraining order against his ex-wife, saying he was fearful for his life due to alleged previous instances of blackmail, financial abuse and physical assault by his ex-wife's boyfriend, according to court documents obtained by ABC News. The request was denied by a California court. Jeziorski, a 43-year-old associate marketing professor at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, was allegedly shot and killed in Athens on July 4 near the home where his two children -- Zoe and Angelo -- live, his younger brother said in a statement. The children, who are 10-year-old twins, had been living with the Jeziorski's ex-wife in Athens since 2020, according to court documents. In a press release shared on Thursday, police said an attacker "approached the victim and shot him in the chest and back, resulting in his fatal injury, and then fled." Five people have been arrested in connection to the killing, including the professor's ex-wife, her boyfriend and three other men who were allegedly accomplices in the murder, according to Greek police sources. All five suspects appeared in court in Athens on Thursday. Prior to the killing, Przemyslaw Jeziorski, known as "PJ" to his friends, filed a domestic violence restraining order request against his ex-wife, Konstantina Michelidaki -- who is referred to as Nadia Michelidaki by family and Greek media -- on May 9, nearly two months before his death, according to court documents filed in Alameda County Superior Court in California. In the declaration accompanying the restraining order request, Jeziorski claimed that his ex-wife had used "coercive control" to keep the children away from him in Greece, financially abused their Airbnb rental property business and threatened to hurt his reputation. He also accused her partner, who is only referred to as "Christos" in the documents, of assaulting him. Jeziorski and Michelidaki were married in March 2014 and were separated beginning on March 2021. A "bifucation of marital status was granted" by a court on Sept. 26, 2024, according to the documents. "I am fearful of what she is doing now and what she will attempt to do next as we move forward in this divorce," the professor wrote in his declaration. Allegations of physical assault by ex-wife's boyfriend In the declaration, Jeziorski detailed an alleged incident on May 15, 2024, when he visited the children in Greece and was "twice attacked and physically assaulted" by Christos. During that trip to Greece, the professor said he had dropped off his children at Michelidaki's house and said he was uncomfortable with Christos being there with the children -- which is when the boyfriend became "verbally aggressive," according to the documents. "[He] charged at me on the street, pushed me and kicked me. I screamed for help. The security guard of the German embassy came out, and Christos stopped kicking me," he alleged in the declaration. The professor had discussed his discomfort with Christos to his ex-wife previously, to which she would accuse him of lying and say that his "lawyer had instructed" him to say those things, the documents said. "She made me afraid of my life by having her partner, who is hostile and aggressive towards me, during the visitation exchange, despite my asking her not do to so," he wrote in the documents. Police in Greece were contacted regarding this attack and criminal charges were previously filed against Christos, the professor wrote in the restraining order. ABC News has not verified whether charges were filed in Greece regarding the alleged assault Claims of financial abuse, blackmail by ex-wife In the restraining order request, the professor also accused Michelidaki of blackmailing him and threatening to end his career. "Her goal was to humiliate me socially in order to control me and the finances. She did this to get me to drop the indictment against her partner regarding his physical abuse," Jeziorski said in the declaration. He claimed she had accused him of "failing to give her co-authorship of my research papers" and "threatened to contact my colleagues and the dean of my department if I did not pay her money." "Her allegations are baseless; however, this is a serious and sensitive topic for my academic reputation," he wrote in the restraining order. He alleged his ex-wife also attempted to transfer money from their business accounts to her private bank accounts -- meaning she "pocketed" the income from their Airbnb business that was "meant to pay for the carrying cost of the rental properties," which resulted in a "bounced mortgage payment," he wrote in the declaration. In the restraining order request, the professor requested that his ex-wife be ordered to stop contacting him (except with "reasonable communication regarding the children"), stop making defamatory statements against him, stop contacting anyone in the academic field related to him and that the court prohibit her control over any of the bank accounts related to their rental properties. He requested she be ordered to remain at least 100 yards away from him with an exception for "peaceful contact to exchange our children for custody purposes." The court denied Jeziorski's restraining order request because "the facts given in the request do not show reasonable proof of a past act or acts of abuse" and that the "facts given in the request do not give enough detail about the most recent incidents of abuse," according to a checklist in the documents. Now after his murder, Jeziorski's two children -- who are U.S. and Polish citizens -- are "under care in accordance with Greek child custody procedures," his brother said in a statement to ABC News on Thursday. The five suspects in his killing will have another court appearance on Monday, according to Greek police sources.
San Francisco Chronicle
12 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘She made me afraid': Slain UC Berkeley professor sought restraining order against ex-wife
Two months before Przemyslaw Jeziorski was shot to death in Greece outside his ex-wife's home, the UC Berkeley professor sought a restraining order against her, saying he feared for his life. Jeziorski, 43, sought the court order amid a child custody and property battle with ex-wife Nadia Michelidaki, 43, accusing her of threats and extortion attempts, and her boyfriend of assaulting him twice during visits to her suburban Athens home to see his children. The request for a restraining order, filed in Alameda County Superior Court in May, detailed increasingly hostile behavior from Jeziorski's ex-wife and her boyfriend that made Jeziorski worry about what more they might do to him. Jeziorski was killed on July 4 as he was walking to Michelidaki's home to see his children. Earlier this week, Greek police arrested Michelidaki, her partner and three others, charging them with Jeziorski's killing. In an interview with the Chronicle, Michelidaki's attorney, Alexandros Pasiatas, said his client was not involved in Jeziorski's killing. Jeziorski and Michelidaki had visited a child psychologist and come to an agreement on their children's custody and summer plans, he said. Michelidaki had been 'very, very happy' with the agreement, he said, adding that it 'wouldn't make sense' for her to then have her partner kill Jeziorski half an hour later. Michelidaki was in police custody as of Thursday and will remain there until a hearing on July 21, when a judge will decide whether Michelidaki should remain in jail pending trial. Her children are currently under the care of the state, Pasiatas said. Jeziorski and Michelidaki married in 2014. Jeziorski filed for divorce in fall 2021, citing irreconcilable differences, and their marriage was dissolved in 2024, although bitter divorce proceedings continued as the couple fought over child custody and shared property. Jeziorski and Michelidaki negotiated an agreement where Jeziorski could take his children on vacation in July every year. In the 12-page restraining order request, Jeziorski accused Michelidaki of a raft of abusive behavior, such as sabotaging their mutual business, attempting to damage his professional reputation and withholding their children from him. He said he was assaulted twice by Michelidaki's partner, Christos Dounias, when he visited her home to drop off or pick up his children. During the first incident, on May 1, 2024, he said Dounias knocked his phone out of his hand during one exchange as he was on a phone call with his brother. Later that day, when he returned to the home to drop his children off, he said, Dounias came down to pick up the kids. 'I told him that since he had assaulted me, I was not comfortable leaving the kids with him for fear of their safety,' Jeziorski wrote in support of his request for a restraining order. He threatened to report Dounias for kidnapping if he took the children. At that point, he said, Dounias charged out of the home and began pushing and kicking him. Jeziorski wrote that he believed his ex-wife 'repeatedly' had Dounias pick up the children instead of appearing herself, which he viewed as a tactic to intimidate him. 'She made me afraid of my life by having her partner, who is hostile and aggressive towards me, (present) during the visitation exchange, despite my asking her not to do so,' he wrote. After the May 2024 incident, authorities charged Dounias with assault, Jeziorski said. Jeziorski went on to accuse Michelidaki of violating their custody agreement and refusing to renew their children's passports, 'which prevents me from taking them to see their grandparents. … Their grandfather is very advanced in age and I want my children to see them before he dies.' In his request for a restraining order, he also detailed several other incidents. In one, in early 2025, he said Michelidaki attempted to extort money from him by sending him messages on Slack accusing him of failing to give her co-authorship on research papers, threatening to 'contact my colleagues and the dean of my department if I did not pay her money.' 'Any small accusation of plagiarism will absolutely destroy my credibility and station in the academic community,' he said, calling the allegations 'a complete lie and slander,' and saying that many of the papers she wanted credit for were written years before the two met. He also said Michelidaki threatened to call police when he held a graduation party in early May at a Berkeley short-term rental property he and she co-owned. Jeziorski wrote that he believed Michelidaki was trying to 'humiliate me socially in order to control me' and their finances, and to get him to drop charges against her current partner. He went on to accuse Michelidaki of taking money out of their joint real estate accounts, actions that he said caused 'chaos' and made him worry she might damage his finances or create debts, and asked for sole control of the account and other business accounts. In the document, Jeziorski asked a judge to order Michelidaki to cease communications with him, to stop making defamatory statements about him and to stop contacting his professional colleagues. Court documents detail other aspects of the deterioration of Jeziorski and Michelidaki's relationship, including Jeziorski's allegation that Michelidaki was attempting to withhold their children from him and her attempts at tarnishing his reputation as an academic. This summer, Jeziorski planned to take his children to Poland, where they traveled annually to visit their grandparents, and the U.S. for a trip to Disneyland. In May, Jeziorski emailed Michelidaki, requesting she take their children to passport renewal appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Athens for their upcoming vacation with him. Michelidaki responded, 'Take them to the one in Paris. And what about your 'dying father'? Don't care to visit him anymore or he quit dying?' 'We don't need to talk this way. My father is not well,' Jeziorski wrote. Court documents also show that Jeziorski felt Michelidaki was threatening his career as a tenured professor of marketing at the Haas School of Business. Jeziorski said that In April, Michelidaki accused him of plagiarism in his research by failing to cite her as a co-author in 'every publication that gave (him) tenure position,' court documents show. 'Adding my name to the Airbnb reviews paper is not acceptable form of attribution. I want my name removed from this embarrassing paper and added to the papers I received in similarly embarrassing state and turned into top journal publications. But seriously remove my name from this trash today,' Michelidaki wrote to Jeziorski. Jeziorski said Michelidaki played no role in writing these papers; she 'never meaningfully contributed to the research beyond scanning a page or two for commas and grammar errors,' Jeziorski said in the court documents. Concurrent with Michelidaki's request for co-authorship, he said she also messaged Jeziorski on Slack demanding more child support. Jeziorski wrote to the court that the two negotiated he would pay 30,000 euros (more than $34,000 in U.S. funds today) per year in child support, in addition to paying for their children's private school tuition. 'Your child support is now 120k per year,' Michelidaki messaged, according to the court documents. 'If you would like to change the mediated agreement please contact my lawyer,' Jeziorski responded. 'I do not want to talk about it in the work slack channel. Also, please do not contact me about extra money demands or with threats of lawsuits of any kind.' Michelidaki responded, 'search up the term threats as you don't know how to use it.' She then threatened to report Jeziorski for plagiarism again to his senior colleague in the marketing department of Haas, 'I'll get paid for my work one way or another. I'll write a book too. I have so many plans for this year!!!' 'Although I know her threats are baseless, I am still intimidated by her actions,' Jeziorski wrote to the court. 'Her baseless allegations will harm my economic prospects for employment and completely damage my reputation in the intellectual community, regardless of their truth.' Court documents show Michelidaki threatened to call police on Jeziorski. As a part of Jeziorski's responsibilities as a tenured professor at Haas, he threw a graduation reception this spring for recent graduates at an Airbnb rental property he co-owned with Michelidaki in Berkeley. Jeziorski said he independently rented the property on Airbnb for the event. 'I know you are at the property,' Michelidaki wrote in an email. 'Do you really want to deal with the police during the party with your students?'
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
UC Berkeley professor's ex-wife, her boyfriend arrested for his murder: Reports
"Our family is heartbroken, but we are grateful to Greek police and security professionals that have identified and captured those accountable," Jeziorski's brother said in statement. The ex-wife of a slain University of California, Berkeley, professor and four others have been arrested in connection with his death, according to multiple reports, citing Greek police sources. Four males, including one who is a minor, confessed to their involvement in the killing of Przemyslaw Jeziorski, 43, Greek police sources told CNN and ABC News. The sources said that the current boyfriend of the professor's ex-wife admitted to the murder, per CNN. Jeziorski's ex-wife is facing moral accomplice charges, the Greek police press office told CNN. Greek police announced the arrests of the five individuals in a news release on Thursday, July 17, saying three of them were accomplices and another was a local resident. Police added that the attacker approached Jeziorski and shot him in the chest and back, resulting in his fatal injury, before fleeing. Police did not name any of the suspects, including Jeziorski's ex-wife or her boyfriend, when contacted by USA TODAY on July 17. Jeziorski killed while going to visit children, brother says Jeziorski was shot and killed in Athens, Greece, on July 4 while heading to visit his two children, his brother Lukasz Jeziorski said in a statement on Facebook. Lukasz Jeziorski also commented on the recent development in a statement on July 17, in which he said five people, including his brother's ex-wife and her boyfriend, have now been arrested in connection with his brother's killing. Przemyslaw Jeziorski's ex-wife was allegedly "the orchestrator behind this heinous crime," and her boyfriend, "confessed to carrying out the shooting," Lukasz Jeziorski's statement says. Greek police said in the news release that they were able to identify the vehicle the shooter and his two accomplices were riding in during Jeziorski's murder by watching their movements before and during the killing. The two accomplices left the crime scene without the shooter, who went to the Nafplio area, police said. To avoid identification, the shooter even handed over his mobile phone and vehicle keys to his third accomplice, the department added. Przemyslaw Jeziorski death 43-year-old UC Berkeley professor killed in Greece, family says 'We want justice to be fully served' Lukasz Jeziorski said the arrests "bring us closer to justice." "Our family is heartbroken, but we are grateful to Greek police and security professionals that have identified and captured those accountable," the statement said. "We want justice to be fully served." Przemyslaw Jeziorski's two 10-year-old children are now in the care of Greek officials, Lukasz Jeziorski said. "Our primary concern is their safety and wellbeing, and helping them reconnect with their family to minimize the trauma they have already endured," the statement said. "As family members they know and trust, we ask for their privacy and respect during this difficult time as we focus on caring for these young children." Lukasz Jeziorski's statement also said his brother "loved his children and fought for them until the end." UC Berkeley professor remembered by colleagues Przemyslaw Jeziorski was an associate professor of marketing at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Jenny Chatman, dean of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, said in a statement that she is "heartbroken" by the news of Jeziorski's death. 'While authorities are investigating what happened, our focus is on supporting our community during this difficult period," Chatman said. "My heart goes out to Przemek's family and loved ones. We will miss him.' In tributes shared by UC Berkeley, Jeziorski was remembered by colleagues, students and friends. "He was an amazing person, friend, and colleague. He was a loving father of two young children and always there if someone needed help,' said Zsolt Katona, another marketing professor at UC Berkeley. Przemyslaw Jeziorski, who was known to colleagues and students as Przemek or PJ, was a Polish native. He held three master's degrees and a doctorate, according to UC Berkeley. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Slain UC Berkeley professor's wife among 5 suspects accused of his murder in Greece
Published Jul 17, 2025 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 2 minute read Przemyslaw Jeziorski is pictured in a photo on the online fundraising site Photo by ATHENS, Greece — Five suspects implicated in the killing of a University of California, Berkeley professor appeared in court in Athens on Thursday, including his ex-wife, who has denied all charges. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Przemyslaw Jeziorski, 43, was shot and killed July 4 in Athens while visiting Greece to see his two young children and finalize legal arrangements for future visitation. Among those who appeared in court was Jeziorski's Greek ex-wife, who remains in police custody on charges of solicitation to commit murder. Her boyfriend, a 35-year-old Greek man, has been charged with murder. Three other men, also charged as alleged accomplices, were present. All five appeared at a central Athens court and were given until Monday to prepare their defence, court officials said. Alexandros Pasiatas, a lawyer for the ex-wife, said she had no role in the crime. 'From the outset, my client has maintained that she is innocent and has no involvement in the crime,' Pasiatas said. 'The evidence is overwhelmingly in her favour.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Police said Jeziorski was shot by a masked gunman in broad daylight near his ex-wife's home in the suburb of Agia Paraskevi, and died at the scene, CNN reported. The suspect allegedly ' approached the victim on foot and opened fire from close range,' hitting the victim in the neck and chest, according to police spokesperson Konstantina D imoglidou . Police recovered s even bullet casings from a 9mm c alibre firearm at the scene. Jeziorski, who was born in Poland, was an associate professor of marketing at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. In a statement this week, the school described him as a 'passionate teacher and leading marketing scholar.' An online fundraiser by Jeziorski's family has been set up to help pay for legal expenses, the cost to repatriate his body, and funeral expenses. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. His children are now in Greek child custody, CNN reported, citing his brother. 'Przemek's ten-year-old children, who are U.S. and Polish citizens, are now under care in accordance with Greek child custody procedures,' Lukasz Jeziorski said in a statement obtained by CNN. 'Our primary concern is their safety and well-being, and helping them reconnect with their family to minimize the trauma they have already endured.' His family said in a statement that he ' loved his children and fought for them until the end. He paid the heaviest price, unnecessarily, for this. 'This summer, he wanted to bring his children to his hometown of Gdynia, Poland. This death and the circumstances surrounding it remain impossible for us to accept, but we find some measure of comfort knowing that progress is being made toward justice, and that the kids are about to reunite with their family into a safe environment.' Lukasz Jeziorski added that their 'family is heartbroken but 'thankful for the help of the U.S. Consulate in Athens, and the Polish Consulate in Athens, helping care for the well-being of the kids.' — with files from Postmedia News Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Tennis MMA World
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Ex-wife's chilling post weeks before she ‘got boyfriend to shoot dead her college professor ex-husband' in Greece
THE ex-wife of a "murdered" professor made a chilling post weeks before she allegedly got her boyfriend to shoot her ex-husband. Nadia Michelidaki, 43, and her boyfriend Christos Dounias, 35, were arrested for the fatal shooting of Advertisement 7 Przemysław Jeziorski was killed in broad daylight in Athens, Greece, his family said Credit: WhyDonate 7 Ex-wife Nadia Michelidaki has been arrested Credit: Facebook 7 Michelidaki's boyfriend Christos Dounias was also arrested Credit: Facebook 7 A chilling Facebook post made by Nadia Michelidaki before her ex-husband's death Credit: Facebook Dad-of-two professor Jeziorski, 43, was heinously shot five times in broad daylight in Athens, Greece, near his ex-wife's house on July 4. He had been visiting the country to see his two children, as well as attend a family custody hearing. And couple of months prior to his tragic death, ex-wife Michelidaki had shared an AI-produced image showing a man in a suit surrounded by cash with an unhappy expression on his face. Tagging her new boyfriend, she wrote: "When you realise that you picked the best dad for your kids." Advertisement read more news Alleged murderer Michelidaki and Professor Jeziorski had reportedly been going through a custody battle at the time he was killed, according to cops. Michelidaki and Dounias planned the horrific murder, Greek authorities said, adding that Dounias was the one who pulled the trigger as Jeziorski arrived to pick up his children. Three other people - two Albanian nationals and one Bulgarian - were also arrested in the tragedy. They are accused of providing the deadly weapon and transporting the gunman. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Michelidaki's lawyer told CNN she denies any involvement in Jeziorski's murder. Meanwhile Dounias is said to have confessed to the murder - but said his girlfriend was the mastermind behind it, Greek media reported. Elderly couple, 77 and 83, killed in horror fire after 'arson attack' on their home – as cops probe 'murder' Michelidaki and Jeziorski wed in 2014 before he filed for divorce in 2021. The ex-couple founded a rental property management company together and were apparently fighting over finances. Advertisement Professor Jeziorski had also sought a restraining order against his ex-wife in San Francisco in May as he said he feared for his life, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Before he died, he accused Michelidaki of threatening and exhorting attempts and said Dounias assaulted him twice. In one instance, Dounias allegedly knocked his phone out of his hand and, the same day, kicked and pushed him. Dounias was charged with assault over these incidents from May. Advertisement Jeziorski wrote: "She made me afraid of my life by having her partner, who is hostile and aggressive towards me, [present] during the visitation exchange, despite my asking her not to do so." The professor had also claimed his ex-wife had sent him messages on Slack insisting she got co-authorship on his research and "threatening to 'contact my colleagues and the dean of my department if I did not pay her money.'" 7 Nadia Michelidaki made a chilling post weeks before her ex's death Credit: Facebook 7 Professor Jeziorski leaves behind two children Credit: Facebook Advertisement Jeziorski explained he thought Michelidaki was attempting to "humiliate" him "socially in order to control me." He added in writing: "Although I know her threats are baseless, I am still intimidated by her actions. "Her baseless allegations will harm my economic prospects for employment and completely damage my reputation in the intellectual community, regardless of their truth." After the heinous muder, his ex-wife said she didn't know of anyone who would have wanted to harm him. Advertisement Jeziorski's grieving family said in a statement: "Przemek loved his children and fought for them until the end. "He paid the heaviest price, unnecessarily, for this. "This summer, he wanted to bring his children to his hometown of Gdynia, Poland. "This death and the circumstances surrounding it remain impossible for us to accept, but we find some measure of comfort knowing that progress is being made toward justice, and that the kids are about to reunite with their family into a safe environment." Advertisement The ex-couple's two young children are now in the care of Greek child custody, Jeziorski's brother confirmed in a statement. 7 The ex-couple's two young children are now in the care of Greek child custody Credit: Facebook
