Missing U.S. Priest Feared Dead in Greece Over Friend's Inheritance Dispute

Christiaan Kappes, an American priest who was conducting doctoral studies in Thessaloniki, has disappeared in Greece according to his family. As Fox59 News reports, his family believes he’s in serious danger or maybe even dead.
Three days ago, Father Kappes called his parents in Indiana to tell them that he was trying to escape the country with his translator and close friend, Ioanna Lekakou, because she was involved in a heated dispute over her family’s inheritance.
“He told my dad on Monday, ‘If you don’t hear from me in 12 to 24 hours, I’m dead,” said Nadia Charcap, Father Kappes’ sister.
“He said that her family is out to get the money that she inherited and they are going to stop at nothing to hurt her in order to get this money,” Charcap said. “I asked him if he thought his life was in danger, if he thought anything was amiss and he was like, ‘No they’re just a bunch of thugs.'”
Father Christiaan Kappes reportedly told his family that he was trying to make sure Lekakou remained safe. Early Monday morning, they received another call from him saying someone had threatened to kill Lekakou and that he believed he was also a target.
Acording to the Fox59 news report, father Kappes went to the U.S. embassy to seek help but later he left and according to witnesses he was taken to the Athens International airport.
Virgil Kappes told Fox59 that he spoke to a priest in Greece who reportedly dropped off his son and Lekakou at the Athens airport. The family said they were both planning to fly to Indianapolis on separate flights. As far as they know, neither one made it on a plane.
UPDATE: A State Department Official in Athens who wished not be identified  confirmed that U.S. citizen Christiaan Kappes has been reported missing in Athens.
“We have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad and the U.S. Embassy in Athens is in contact with the family and is working closely with Greek authorities to locate Mr. Kappes,” said the State Department official.
In general, in the case of a missing U.S. citizen abroad, consular officers check with local authorities to determine if they have reports of a U.S. citizen hospitalized, arrested, or otherwise unable to communicate with those looking for them. Depending on the circumstances, consular officers may personally search hotels, airports, hospitals, or even prisons.
The American priest went to Greece three years ago as a member of a pilot program set up by the Vatican and the government of Greece in which he and other Catholics will earn advanced degrees in Greek Orthodox theology in Greece.
Watch the news report from Fox59 news below:

Greg Otolski, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, sent the following statement to Fox59 News:
“The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is aware of the situation involving Father Christiaan Kappes. We have talked to his family and Church authorities about the matter. We are concerned that Father Kappes’ family has not been able to contact him in recent days. We are praying for the well-being of Father Kappes and his family and for Father Kappes’ safe return to the United States.”
Wayne M. Stanley, Press Secretary for Senator Richard Lugar, responded with this statement:
“Our office has been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Athens and the American Citizen’s Services Chief on behalf of Mr. Kappes’ family. Following those conversations, as of today, our office has contacted the local FBI office in Indianapolis to assist the family in locating Father Kappes. As with any case, Senator Lugar’s expert casework staff is utilizing their contacts to assist the family in every way possible. We are hopeful they locate Father Kappes very soon.”
According to Senator Lugar’s office, the State Department is looking into the case and working with the American Citizen’s Services Chief in Greece.