Christina Onassis’ last moments

09 December 2013 / 16:12:46 GRReporter

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Christina Onassis

Unknown aspects of Christina Onassis’ life and of the last fatal night before she was found dead in the bathtub are about to come to light thanks to Marina Dodero’s latest book.

The long-awaited publication will be released in March 2014. It will contain not so popular photographs from the early days of the relationship between the two women who were destined to remain inseparable until Christina’s death in November 1988.

Marina Tsomlektsoglu - Dodero is probably the only friend whom Christina had trusted. She was the first person who found her dead body in the bathtub on 19 November 1988. Dodero went to the morgue and, on their last night in Argentina, she stayed awake beside her in the chapel of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Buenos Aires.

Marina Dodero, the most trusted person of Aristotle Onassis’ daughter, has decided to break the silence and openly speak about the bright but also about the darkest aspects of the myth of the Onassis family.

"We were 17 years old when we met. This happened in the summer of 1966, at a party organised by the Konialidi family who were our parents’ friends. Onassis' sister, Meropi Konialidi, introduced us to each other. She thought that her niece Christina could be good friends with the granddaughter of shipping magnate George Embirikos and she was not wrong. We had immediately become close and loved each other," states the heiress of the Embirikos family.

She adds that the first time she was asked to write a book about Christina was just a few days after her death. "Of course, it was impossible for me to do so. I was completely shocked and deeply saddened. I gave a few interviews and that was all," says Dodero.

However, after 25 years, she feels ready to reveal the true Christina.

"I wanted to present the true story and shed light on a case that haunts me. I want to make sure that no one will be able to say anything bad about Christina or me when I leave this world. The truth must come to light for the future generations", she adds.

"Once Christina had told me that she would like her child to be raised by me if something happened to her. For some time, thanks to a friend who worked for Roussel (Thierry Roussel, Athina’s father) I had news. Then subsequently there was nothing. I have never had the chance of seeing Athina. In any case, my conscience is clear and this book will be the last thing I will do," she says.

Marina Dodero says about Athina Onassis, "Every time I see pictures of her in various magazines, my heart sinks ... I see Christina’s eyes. The same eyes, the same scared face. I want Athina to know what her mother was in fact."