A unnamed local man from the village of Xamoudohori, west of Hania, has admitted to a macabre murder of Suzanne Eaton, a beloved and popular American scientist who was attending a conference in Crete.

The brutal murder has captivated Greece, as well as the American media networks, many of which have sent correspondents to the island whose people are ferociously proud of the hospitality they share with strangers.

“This isn’t a reflection of who we are,” said Nikos Akrotirianakis, a native of Hania who emailed The Pappas Post a statement. “We are a hospitable, warm people and we pride ourselves on how we treat the stranger to our land. Please don’t stigmatize an entire population based on the actions of a sick man.”

The 27-year-old male suspect, who was brought in by police for questioning, reportedly confessed to a series of brutal acts that led to Suzanne Eaton’s eventual death.

According to several local news sources, the suspect confessed to hitting Eaton with his car several times while she jogged on the side of the road, eventually knocking her to the ground and putting her into the trunk of his car.

She fought back— as was corroborated by the coroner, who found defensive wounds on her body— as the suspected murderer placed her in his trunk.

According to his confession, he stabbed her several times. He admitted also that Eaton continued screaming for help, so he choked her to death.

According to CretaPost, a local news outlet, the suspect— a father of two young children— told police he was a voyeur and found sexual pleasure in attacking the American woman and watching her suffer.

American outlets CBS and ABC have sent correspondents to Crete to cover the investigation and even into the World War II-era Nazi bunker where Eaton’s body was found.

The following CBS News report was filed before the suspected murderer made his confession.