Salem woman found dead in Georgia; boyfriend charged with murder

Longtime Salem resident Karina Moreno, 42, was found dead after authorities responded to reports of a domestic dispute in a city near Atlanta.

A Salem woman was found dead in Georgia earlier this month, leading authorities to arrest a man and charge him with murder.

The death of Karina Moreno, 42, was confirmed by the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, and an obituary has been posted online.

On Oct. 6, deputies were dispatched to an address on Chastain Drive in Cartersville, Georgia. The city is located northwest of Atlanta. They had received reports of a domestic dispute and were called to conduct a welfare check.

After arriving at the house and not receiving any response from inside, the deputies forced their way in. They found Antonios Pete Kostopoulos, 52, inside with “suspected blood on his person.” He was taken into custody without incident, according to the sheriff’s office.

As authorities cleared the home, they found the body of Moreno on the living room floor wrapped in a blanket.

Kostopoulos is facing nine criminal charges that include murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, concealing the death of another, and tampering with evidence. An investigation is ongoing.

Moreno was raised in Salem and graduated from Salem High School, according to her obituary. She earned an associate’s degree from Northshore Community College, matriculated to Bunker Hill Community College, and later earned a master’s in business administration from Endicott College.

For 20 years, Moreno worked at Medtronic, a medical equipment manufacturer in Danvers. She worked her way up to becoming a Global Project Manager.

“Karina was cherished for her sassy demeanor, kind heart, and innate generosity. She had a deep love for her family and friends, always making time to support and uplift those around her. Known for her impeccable sense of style, Karina’s fashion-conscious spirit added a touch of elegance to every occasion,” Moreno’s obituary reads.

Moreno’s niece told NBC10 Boston that she moved south after living in Salem her whole life. Her father told Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra in Spanish that she had been living with her boyfriend, and identified him as Kostopoulos.

“It was news that broke your heart, I mean, you never expected… something like that,” her father, Jose Moreno, told the station in Spanish.

Staff Writer

Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more.