More Charges Await Accused Kidnapper Of 9-Year-Old Boy

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A man at the center of an Amber Alert issued Monday is now facing additional charges in Hillsborough County.

Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office learned the kidnapping incident began at a home in Odessa where a verbal argument between Haralampos Savopoulos, 50, and the victim escalated. Savopoulos destroyed their phone and then struck the victim and her 9-year-old son, Michael Morris, multiple times.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said the sheriff's office received a call around 4:48 a.m. Monday about a situation in the 4000 block of Sail Drive in Holiday. When deputies arrived, they found a woman badly beaten on the street. She was taken to the hospital with a possible brain injury, Nocco said.

Deputies said she told them she was in a car with her son, Michael, when she and Savopoulos got into an argument. She said Savopoulos threw her out of the car and told her that Michael was going to pay for what she had done, according to Nocco.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office activated an Amber Alert.

Nocco said Savopoulos has been arrested numerous times for aggravated battery and stalking and there's currently a warrant out for this arrest in Pinellas County.

Michael, who is nonverbal and autistic, was found safe around 10 a.m., the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

Savopoulos was taken into custody a short time later.

"We are charging this man with several felonies he also committed in Hillsborough County," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "The pain and suffering he caused to two innocent victims will lead to serious consequences. The victims felt helpless, but I applaud the adult victim for gaining the courage to fight for their lives and find help."

Savopoulos has been charged with aggravated battery with great bodily harm, child abuse, criminal mischief of $200 or less, and two counts of kidnapping.